It was reported that 51-year-old man died at GG Hospital after being infected with Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Pancheshwar Tower area of Jamnagar city. The patient was admitted to the GG Hospital on January 21. The patient's samples, dispatched on the same day to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, confirmed the infection with CCHF.
CCHF is an arthropod-borne viral disease, mostly impacting the population that involves in agriculture and livestock breeding. The nodal officer of infectious diseases of Jamnagar, Dr. S.S. Chatterjee stated that the person-to-person transmission of CCHF is relatively infrequent. The Jamnagar Municipal Corporation also briefed the family members of the deceased on the disease, after his diagnosis, and directed them to inform in case of developing any symptoms. Moreover, veterinary officers initiated anti-tick operations and directed them to handle animals properly.
Dr. Nilam Patel, additional director (public health) of the state health department, said that as the patient had engagement in farming and animal husbandry, transmission is likely to have happened through tick bites. An intensive drive has been launched to identify infected animals and monitor the local population for CCHF symptoms.
The symptoms of CCHF are high-grade fever, myalgia, dizziness, photophobia, eye pain, gastrointestinal disturbances, and diarrhoea. The first reported case in India was reported in Gujarat in 2011. The last reported outbreak was in 2023 when a patient from Kutch district was diagnosed with the disease.
The National Institute of Virology (NIV) located in Pune has confirmed the new case of CCHF reported recently. An apex institute of the country dealing with virology under the umbrella of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), it was established back in 1952. This institute has played an important role during outbreaks and also diagnosed emerging viral diseases such as COVID-19. [1]
CCHF is endemic in areas like Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Asia. The disease has a very high fatality rate. Some cases go as severe as blood oozing from the eyes, for instance. In 2023, a 14-year-old boy in Pakistan tested positive for CCHF. This was proof of the virus's presence in neighbouring countries. [2]
Given the severity and potential spread of CCHF, health authorities emphasise the importance of early detection, public education, and preventive measures, especially among those engaged in animal-related occupations.
References:
National Institute of Virology (ICMR). "About NIV." National Institute of Virology., Accessed January 2025. https://niv.icmr.org.in/.
The Sun UK. "Teen Tests Positive for Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, Bleeds from Eyes." The Sun UK., Accessed January 2025. https://www.thesun.co.uk/.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Pragati Sakhuja/MSM)