Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Salamanca, Spain
16 Jun 2020
The General Directorate of Public Health in Castilla y León, Spain has confirmed
(in Spanish) that a case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is being treated in the Salamanca University Assistance Complex.
The patient was bitten by a tick in a pine forest in the province of Salamanca in late May and later sought medical attention for a highfever that did not improve. Currently, the patient is in a stable condition in an infectious diseases unit.
CCHF is uncommon in Spain although a small number of cases have been identified in recent years.
Advice for Travellers
CCHF is a viral haemorrhagic fever found in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It presents a low risk to the average traveller; it is spread by infected ticks from an animal reservoir such as cattle, sheep and goats. CCHF can also be transmitted by contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected animal or person. Avoidance of tick bites is essential in risk areas.
For further information see Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever.