Iran: Crimean-Congo fever cases

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id...tionid=3510210

Congo-Crimean fever proves deadly in Iran
Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:13:08 GMT

The tiny but deadly creature burys itself inside the skin and can be difficult to detect.
Congo-Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) has killed 8 people in Iran this year while at least 63 people have contracted the disease.

?No less than 8 individuals across the country have died of Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever in recent months, and 63 more are believed to have been infected,? said Mohammad Reza Shirzadi, head of Iran Ministry of Health's Zoonoses Disease Department.

?Past history of tick bite, livestock slaughtering, presence of a designated place for animals at home, keeping livestock in the house, and contact history with livestock are among the factors that must be studied on any suspected patients,? the health official said.

The fever had infected 120 people in 2008 from which 19 deaths were reported.

Several cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), an arboviral disease, have been reported since the summer of 1999 across different areas of Iran.

Health officials aim to determine the most important means and patterns of transmission and the epidemiologic characteristics of this disease.

NAT/SC/DT

[alert]

Re: Iran: Crimean-Congo fever cases

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:4564940164333979::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,79119

CRIMEAN-CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - IRAN: (RAZAVI KHORASAN) ABATTOIR WORKERS
************************************************** ******
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sat 5 Sep 2009
Source: shooresh1917.blogspot.com, Revolutionary Road report [edited]
<http://shooresh1917.blogspot.com/2009/09/latest-irannews-headlines-4th-september.html>


[Abattoir] workers diagnosed with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever
------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently 6 slaughter workers of "Tappe Salam" of Mashhad have been
admitted to the hospital due to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever
virus infection. According to ILNA [Iranian Labour News Agency], this
disease has spread among the workers after importation of domestic
animals from Afghanistan. The workers of "Tappe Salam" reported to
medical staff with high fever, severe pain in all body muscles,
headache, and nausea; they were diagnosed with Crimean-Congo
haemorrhagic fever.

Domestic animals with Crimea-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus infection
have been imported into Iran previously, although according to law,
any import or export of animals must be authorized by the Ministry of Health.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Susan Baekeland

[Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral haemorrhagic
fever caused by a virus classified in the genus _Nairovirus_ in the
family _Bunyaviridae_. Although primarily a zoonosis, sporadic cases
and outbreaks of CCHF affecting humans do occur frequently. The
disease is endemic in many countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia.

The geographical distribution of the virus, like that of its vectors,
argasid or ixodid ticks, is widespread. CCHF virus may infect a wide
range of domestic and wild animals. Animals become infected with CCHF
from the bite of infected ticks. A number of tick genera are capable
of becoming infected with CCHF virus, but the most efficient and
common vectors for CCHF appear to be members of the genus _Hyalomma_.
Transovarial (transmission of the virus from infected female ticks to
offspring via eggs) and venereal transmission have been demonstrated
amongst some vector species, indicating one mechanism, which may
contribute to maintaining the circulation of the virus in nature.

Humans who become infected with CCHF acquire the virus from direct
contact with blood or other infected tissues from livestock during
this time, or they may become infected from a tick bite. The majority
of cases have occurred in those involved with the livestock industry,
such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians.

The length of the incubation period for the illness appears to depend
on the mode of acquisition of the virus. Following infection via tick
bite, the incubation period is usually 1 to 3 days, with a maximum of
9 days. The incubation period following contact with infected blood
or tissues is usually 5 to 6 days, with a documented maximum of 13
days. Onset of symptoms is sudden, with fever, myalgia (aching
muscles), dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache,
sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light). There may be
nausea, vomiting and sore throat early on, which may be accompanied
by diarrhoea and generalised abdominal pain. Over the next few days,
the patient may experience sharp mood swings, and may become confused
and aggressive. After 2 to 4 days, the agitation may be replaced by
sleepiness, depression, and lassitude, and the abdominal pain may
localize to the right upper quadrant, with detectable hepatomegaly
(liver enlargement).

The mortality rate from CCHF is approximately 30 percent, with death
occurring in the 2nd week of illness. In those patients who recover,
improvement generally begins on the 9th or 10th day after the onset of illness.

General supportive therapy is the mainstay of patient management in
CCHF. Intensive monitoring to guide volume and blood component
replacement is required. The antiviral drug ribavirin has been used
in treatment of established CCHF infection with apparent benefit.
Both oral and intravenous formulations seem to be effective.

Further information can be obtained from the WHO website at
<http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs208/en/index.html>.

Mashhad is the capital of Razavi Khorasan province in northeastern
Iran, close to the border with Turkmenistan. It can be found on the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00M2>. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Central Asia: background 20090826.3003
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan (04): (SK) 20090818.2932
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan (03): (KY) 20090815.2897
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan (02): (SK) 20090802.2707
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan: (SK) 20090715.2529
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (06): (VG) 20090815.2899
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (05): (ST) 20090620.2267
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (04): (ST) 20090606.2098
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia: (S Fed Dist) 20090316.1071
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (02): (ST) 20090506.1696
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia: (ST) 20090523.1926
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Tajikistan: (TC) 20090815.2898
2007
----
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran ex Afghanistan 20020607.4430
2002
----
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran (Southeast): RFI 20000918.1599]
...................................cp/mj/dk

[alert]

Re: Iran: Crimean-Congo fever cases

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:1192814550375757::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,79138

Archive Number 20090908.3166
Published Date 08-SEP-2009
Subject PRO/AH> Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran (02): (KV) abattoir workers


CRIMEAN-CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - IRAN (02): (RAZAVI KHORASAN) ABATTOIR WORKERS
************************************************** *************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Mon 7 Sep 2009
From: Merritt Clifton <anmlpepl@whidbey.com>


A comment
---------
In the previous post [Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran: (KV) abattoir
workers 20090907.3149] the moderator stated that: "Humans who become
infected with CCHF acquire the virus from direct contact with blood
or other infected tissues from livestock during this time, or they
may become infected from a tick bite."

The avenue of infection might be one or more of the unique aspects of
halal slaughter [permissible to use or engage in, according to
Islamic law], and the pre-and-post slaughtering procedures might have
to be amended to prevent such infections from becoming a recurring phenomenon.

The halal slaughter method inevitably involves more blood flying
around than the conventional western method, and because multiple
workers are having to physically hold the animal throughout the
slaughter process, there is huge opportunity for ticks to move from
the dying animal to the nearest living hosts -- the humans -- as well
as for the workers to have contact with blood.

For religious and cultural reasons, the halal slaughter method itself
is not open to change, but the risk of infection might be
substantially reduced if animals were dipped in an appropriate
solution prior to slaughter, if workers always wore protective
clothing to prevent direct bodily contact with animals, and if
something was done to reduce the accumulations of blood in the
slaughter areas, which are typically dependant on nothing more than
gravity for drainage.

More hosing would be an obvious response, except that in arid
climates such as Iran and Afghanistan, the necessary water might not
be available.

Either dipping or more hosing will be problematic in arid locations,
but probably many animals could wade through the same dipping tank,
so long as it was kept refreshed and skimmed to remove still living
ticks and tick carcasses.

My personal preference would be for people to quit eating meat, but I
know that isn't going to happen soon, especially not in those parts
of the world.

--
Communicated by:
Merritt Clifton
Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE
PO Box 960
Clinton, WA 98236
USA
<anmlpepl@whidbey.com>
<http://www.animalpeoplenews.org>

[see also:
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran: (KV) abattoir workers 20090907.3149
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Central Asia: background 20090826.3003
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan (04): (SK) 20090818.2932
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan (03): (KY) 20090815.2897
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan (02): (SK) 20090802.2707
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan: (SK) 20090715.2529
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (06): (VG) 20090815.2899
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (05): (ST) 20090620.2267
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (04): (ST) 20090606.2098
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia: (S Fed Dist) 20090316.1071
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (02): (ST) 20090506.1696
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia: (ST) 20090523.1926
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Tajikistan: (TC) 20090815.2898 2007
2007
----
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran ex Afghanistan 20020607.4430 2002
----
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran (Southeast): RFI 20000918.1599]
...................................cp/mj/dk

[alert]

Re: Iran: Crimean-Congo fever cases

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:760401323126224::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,79146

Archive Number 20090908.3172
Published Date 08-SEP-2009
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran (03): update


CRIMEAN-CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - IRAN (03): UPDATE
************************************************** *
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: 7 Sep 2009
Source: Badablog [edited]
<http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=105532?ionid=3510210>


Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever proves deadly in Iran
------------------------------------------------------
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has killed 8 people in Iran
this year while at least 63 people have contracted the disease.

"No less than 8 individuals across the country have died of CCHF in
recent months, and 63 more are believed to have been infected," said
Mohammad Reza Shirzadi, head of Iran Ministry of Health's Zoonoses
Disease Department.

"Past history of tick bite, livestock slaughtering, presence of a
designated place for animals at home, keeping livestock in the house,
and contact history with livestock are among the factors that must be
studied on any suspected patients," the health official said.

In 2008 CCHF infected 120 people of whom 19 died.

Several cases of CCHF, an arboviral disease [CCHF is transmitted by
ticks (arachnid), not by insects and other arthropods - Mod.CP], have
been reported since the summer of 1999 across different areas of
Iran. Health officials aim to determine the most important means and
patterns of transmission and the epidemiologic characteristics of this disease.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral haemorrhagic
fever of the Nairovirus group. Although primarily a zoonosis,
sporadic cases and outbreaks of CCHF affecting humans do occur. The
disease is endemic in many countries in Africa, Europe and Asia, and
during 2001, cases or outbreaks have been recorded in Kosovo,
Albania, Iran, Pakistan, and South Africa.

The disease was 1st described in the Crimea in 1944 and given the
name Crimean haemorrhagic fever. In 1969 it was recognized that the
pathogen causing Crimean haemorrhagic fever was the same as that
responsible for an illness identified in 1956 in the Congo, and
linkage of the 2 place names resulted in the current name for the
disease and the virus. CCHF is a severe disease in humans, with a
high mortality rate. Fortunately, human illness occurs infrequently,
although animal infection may be more common.

Further information can be obtained at the WHO website via:
<http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs208/en/index.html>. - Mod.CP]

[A map showing the location of Iran is available at:
<http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/ir.htm> - CopyEd.EJP]

[see also:
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran (02): (KV) abattoir workers 20090908.3166
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran: (KV) abattoir workers 20090907.3149
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Central Asia: background 20090826.3003
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan (04): (SK) 20090818.2932
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan (03): (KY) 20090815.2897
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan (02): (SK) 20090802.2707
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Kazakhstan: (SK) 20090715.2529
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (06): (VG) 20090815.2899
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (05): (ST) 20090620.2267
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (04): (ST) 20090606.2098
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia: (S Fed Dist) 20090316.1071
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia (02): (ST) 20090506.1696
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Russia: (ST) 20090523.1926
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Tajikistan: (TC) 20090815.2898
2007
----
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran ex Afghanistan 20020607.4430
2002
----
Crimean-Congo hem. fever - Iran (Southeast): RFI 20000918.1599]
.................cp/ejp/dk