Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF): An Emerging Disease in Afghanistan

Abstract

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) seems to be a severe viral infection that is spreading throughout Afghanistan. The first case of CCHF was recorded in March 1998 in Takhar province, located in the country’s north. And since then, multiple new cases and outbreaks have occurred over the years and continue to do so now. CCHF is a viral disease that is transmitted to humans mostly by hard tick bites or direct contact with the blood of infected animals. In Afghanistan, the prevalence of CCHF outbreaks has grown dramatically around Eid-ul-Adha. The primary symptom of this fatal disease is bleeding. There is no cure for CCHF at the moment, but the antiviral drug Ribavirin is used to treat it. This disease presently lacks a commercially accessible vaccine. The disease is recommended to be controlled through preventative measures such as Avoiding insect bites and coming into touch with the blood of a suspicious animal are just a few of the precautions that can be taken.