A retrospective study of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Iraq

Abstract

Background: CCHF is transmitted via ticks biting and directly by contact with tissue or blood of infected patients or viremicanimals. This study intends to determine the occurrence of CCHF in Iraq between 2015 and 2019. Methods: This study was designed as a retrospective and descriptive cross-sectional study. It was approved the occurrence ofCCHF in Iraq with relation to some epidemiological and demographic data reported in the Iraqi Communicable Diseases ControlCenter (CDC)/zoonotic diseases section between 2015-2019. Results: Out of 206 suspected cases, only 17 were diagnosed as CCHF with a total fatality ratio of 52%, 25%, and 80% in 2015and 2018 respectively. However, no mortality was reported during 2016, 2017, and 2019. The mean age of the patients was 33years± 18 SD, in males mainly (76%). Moreover, the risk groups were 29 %, 23 %, 18 % 12 %, and 6 % for butchers, animaldealers, gainers, both housewives and students and children respectively. Conclusion: Strict precautions and precise surveillance should be implemented to control the disease and protect the communityby improving the diagnosis and treatment of CCHF. The authors recommend another future study to detect the genotypingand sequencing of CCHFV in Iraq. Keywords: Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever; Iraq; tick.