3 die in Crimean-Congo fever strikes in Black Sea

KASTAMONU - Doğan News Agency

We need to caution our citizens, this is no joke, Kastamonu Gov. Bektaş says. DHA photo

Three people have died in the Black Sea province of Kastamonu due to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a tick-borne viral disease, the governor of the province said yesterday in a joint press conference with other local officials.

Seven people in five different provinces have died of the disease in the last two weeks following tick bites, and dozens of others have been discharged after receiving treatment at hospitals.

“This tick-borne curse has once more become an issue along with the warming weather. The viral Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever has again reared its head. We have lost three [people] due to [this illness] as of today. We have quite a large number of patients receiving treatment for the disease. Some have been discharged, while others are still under treatment due to a positive diagnosis,” Kastamonu Gov. Erdoğan Bektaş said.

Three people lost their lives with a positive diagnosis for the disease, according to reports.
“It is spring, and our citizens are going outside [more]. Therefore we need to caution our citizens. This is no joke: Death is the price that is on the line. We have lost three citizens. Taking the [necessary] precautions is not difficult,” Bektaş said.

Seven patients have already been treated and discharged from hospital as of now, Dr. Yılmaz said, adding that the disease does not have to be fatal if the tick bite can be detected early on and the victim taken to hospital in short order. “Turkey first saw Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in 2002. This is an undesirable situation that could [arise] across the whole of Turkey, although it is more prevalent in certain areas,” Dr. Yılmaz said.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever mainly affects animals. Ticks that live on sheep and cattle can sometimes pass the virus on to people. It is an Ebola-like fever, and patients can bleed to death if they are not treated quickly. Those infected can transmit the virus through their blood or saliva. The disease is endemic in parts of Africa, Asia and Europe.

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