13 useless from Congo haemorrhagic fever in Iraq this yr

No less than 13 individuals have died in Iraq because the begin of the yr from a viral tick-borne illness transmitted to people from livestock, the well being ministry mentioned on Saturday.

Almost 100 different individuals have been contaminated by Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Iraq, the place the illness claimed many extra victims final yr.

In 2022, at the least 212 individuals had been contaminated whereas 27 died, in keeping with ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr.

Most of those that have been contaminated are livestock breeders from the agricultural southern province of Dhi Qar, in addition to staff in abattoirs.

Based on the World Well being Group, CCHF is a “viral tick-borne illness that’s transmitted to people by bites of contaminated ticks, and by direct contact with blood or tissues from contaminated people and livestock”.

It was first identified in 1979 in Iraq, the place many years of warfare and battle have devastated authorities companies together with the well being infrastructure.

© 2023 AFP