First Crimean-Congo fever patient dies in Duhok
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Duhok province on Saturday confirmed its first Crimean-Congo fever fatality, a hospital official told Rudaw.
The patient, a 45-year-old woman from the Sheladze subdistrict, was admitted to Azadi Teaching Hospital on Wednesday after exhibiting symptoms of the disease. On Friday, her test results returned from Baghdad and confirmed the diagnosis. She passed away on Saturday, Sagvan Sulaiman, head of the hospital, told Rudaw.
The Kurdistan Region's first case of Crimean-Congo fever this year was recorded on May 2 in the town of Koya in Erbil province.
Riyadh al-Halfi, director general of the Public Health Directorate at the health ministry, told Rudaw on Monday that they have recorded 53 cases of the fever, including seven deaths.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a highly contagious virus that can be transmitted to humans through several routes, including contact with the blood or tissues of infected animals, bites from infected ticks, direct exposure to bodily fluids of infected individuals, and consumption of raw or undercooked meat from infected livestock. It is frequently fatal, with severe symptoms including internal bleeding, coma, and multi-organ failure.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) introduced precautionary measures last month to prevent the spread of the disease.
Hayder Doski contributed to this article.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
a day ago
- Rudaw Net
Suwayda doctors recount harrowing accounts of sectarian violence
Also in Syria Damascus rejects SDF demands to retain weapons, form separate military bloc Explosion kills at least 6 in Syria's Idlib Syria church denies Christian displacement from Suwayda amid violence UN says 'vital' for Damascus to hold perpetrators of killings accountable A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Doctors from a hospital in Syria's southern province of Suwayda recount to Rudaw the moment they were raided by state-affiliated security forces in recent days during the sectarian clashes between Druze militants and Sunni tribal fighters. The violence left at least 1,300 people dead since it started on July 13, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). It ended with a ceasefire over the weekend. Inside the Suwayda National Hospital - the province's main medical center - doctors were working tirelessly to prepare bodies for burial. A doctor told Rudaw that they were in the emergency section of the hospital when it came under attack recently. State-affiliated 'General Security forces entered the room, forced everyone out with Kalashnikovs and made them kneel, took photos, and sent video recordings. They said, 'You Druze are pigs and must sit here.'' said the doctor, adding that the forces shot a volunteer medical staff dead after cursing him. Another doctor at the hospital warned of the risk of diseases spreading due to bodies having remained on the ground for several days. 'The hospital is destroyed… The hospital is destroyed. Now, everything in the hospital is broken, due to shelling and bullets. We don't have medical supplies available. No aid has reached us from outside.' Damascus-affiliated forces have been accused of summary executions.
Rudaw Net
5 days ago
- Rudaw Net
Iraq records 16 new cases of Crimean-Congo fever
Also in Iraq Iraq cannot control militias attacking Kurdistan Region, says MP Iraqi parliament to convene on Kurdistan Region drone attacks Iraq arrests 40 over alleged baathist plots, sectarian incitement PM Barzani says Baghdad added new condition to finance agreement A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's health ministry on Monday recorded 16 new cases and two deaths from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the year to 231. 'The latest epidemiological update on recorded cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever over the past few days confirms 16 new infections and two deaths,' ministry spokesperson Saif al-Badr told Rudaw, adding that the deaths occurred in Dhi Qar and Wasit provinces. This brings the total number of infections since the beginning of the year to 231, including 30 deaths, according to Badr. The southern province of Dhi Qar, known for rearing cattle, sheep, and goats, all of which are potential carriers of the disease, has the lion's share of cases with 84, followed by Baghdad with 38 and Muthanna with 20. In the Kurdistan Region, Duhok province has recorded three infections and one death, followed by two infections in Erbil and Sulaimani, respectively. Kurdish authorities have repeatedly called on citizens to refrain from slaughtering animals at home and only to purchase meat from trusted butchers. CCHF is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted through multiple routes, including bites from infected ticks, contact with blood or tissues of infected animals, exposure to bodily fluids of infected persons, and consumption of raw or undercooked meat from infected livestock. While some cases present with mild symptoms, the disease is frequently fatal. Severe symptoms may include internal bleeding, coma, and multi-organ failure affecting the liver, kidneys, and respiratory system. The World Health Organization estimates the fatality rate can reach up to 40%. CCHF has been endemic in Iraq since 1979, but has seen a resurgence since 2021, particularly in the southern provinces, raising public health concerns.
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Shafaq News
CCHF: Over 220 cases, 30 deaths in Iraq
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq has confirmed 226 cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) so far this year, with 33 resulting deaths. According to Shafaq News tracker and data released by the Ministry of health, the highest number of infections was recorded in Dhi Qar with 84 cases, while Karbala, Al-Anbar, and Raparin reported just one each. Baghdad reported the most fatalities, with six confirmed deaths. Health Ministry spokesperson Seif al-Badr advised the public to take strict precautions, including purchasing meat only from authorized outlets, using dedicated knives for cutting meat, maintaining hygiene, wearing gloves, and ensuring meat is both properly stored in cold conditions and thoroughly cooked. These measures, he said in a press release, are vital to curbing the spread of the virus, which 'continues to pose a serious health threat ' in several parts of the country.
