CCHF Outbreak Updates in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Mauritania: 2023 Statistics and Trends

2023-12-05 22:02:00

1. Afghanistan

In Afghanistansince the beginning of the year and until November 18, the total number of suspected cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (FHCC) and associated deaths are 1,219 and 114 (CFR 9.4%) respectively. A downward trend in the number of suspected CCHF cases has been reported since the third week of September 2023. This decline might be attributed to seasonal changes towards winter.

The vast majority of cases have been reported in people older than 5 years (99.8%). Deaths associated with CCHF were reported in 15 provinces, with more than half in two provinces: Kaboul (52, 45,6%) et Balkh (16, 14,0%).

2. Irak

In Irakthe Ministry of Health reports more than 545 confirmed cases of CCHF in Iraq for the year 2023, including 70 deaths.

Iraq has experienced sporadic cases of CCHF since 1979, and CCHF virus was first isolated in 1981 from an outbreak limited to eight patients and two health care workers. Sporadic outbreaks of CCHF occurred between the 1980s and 2010, with zero to six confirmed cases reported between 1998 and 2009. The number of suspected CCHF cases increased to 28, with 11 laboratory-confirmed cases in 2010. Most small outbreaks were limited to the same province. CCHF virus infections have recently increased, from 33 cases in 2021 to a 6-fold increase in the first half of 2022.

Researchers say cases increased during the holidays, suggesting cultural practices contribute to the spread. Other factors linked to the epidemic are vector movement, climate change and free trade of animals.

3. Mauritania

Two cases of CCHF were confirmed in Mauritania since the start of 2023.

The first case was a 58-year-old man from the Tevarett district of the Nouakchott North region who was allegedly infected in the district of Ouad Naga from Trarza region and who developed a febrile illness on July 17, 2023. He was tested and died in Dakar, Senegal on July 26, 2023. On July 27, 2023, his results came back positive for FHCC. The second case is a 23 year old woman from the locality of Liber in the Barkeol district of the Assaba regionwhose symptom onset date is September 5, 2023. She tested positive for FHCC by RT-PCR on September 9, 2023.

No epidemiological link has been established between the two confirmed cases.

Source : Outbreak News Today

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