Ticks can transmit Crimean hemorrhagic fever. Here's how to recognize and treat it

What is Crimean hemorrhagic fever

Crimean hemorrhagic fever, or Crimean Congo fever, is one of the viral infections, at which are damaged tiny blood vessels. In places of damage, many microthrombi are formed, which should close the “holes”. But this process cannot last forever, because the reserves of the proteins of the clotting system are depleted. As a result, bleeding begins that is difficult to stop. Therefore, all diseases with such a mechanism are called hemorrhagic fevers, from the word haemorrhagia - "bleeding".

Crimean hemorrhagic fever cause family neuroviruses Bunyaviridae. They do not survive well in the external environment, so they need animal carriers - ticks. Hyalomma.

The disease is common in the same place where these arthropods live. The northern boundary runs approximately along the 50th parallel of northern latitude. These are the territories of Portugal, France, Greece, Hungary, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, as well as the south Russia.

The second border runs through southern Africa.

How is Crimean hemorrhagic fever transmitted?

Ticks may bite not only people. These arthropods transmit Crimean-Congo fever pathogens to goats, cows, hares, hedgehogs, ostriches and other animals. In the latter, the disease does not manifest itself clearly, and the virus itself remains in the blood for about a week.

The infection is transmitted to humans through bites. ticks or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter. Most often, people employed in industrial animal husbandry become infected: agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians. Also often get sick tourists and rural residents.

From person to person, Crimean hemorrhagic fever can be transmitted by contact with blood, secretions and other infected fluids, such as improper sterilization of medical equipment.

What is dangerous Crimean hemorrhagic fever

Crimean hemorrhagic fever may cause to shock and failure of the kidneys, lungs and liver. According to various estimates, from 10 to 40% of patients die. WHO estimates that from 30%.

What are the symptoms of Crimean hemorrhagic fever

Fever symptoms do not appear immediately after infection. If the virus enters the body as a result of a tick bite, the incubation period will be 1-3 days (maximum 9); if due to contact with infected blood or other fluids - 5-6 days (maximum 13).

Then suddenly:

• the temperature rises;
• heartbeat accelerates;
• fever or chills appear;
• the head, bones, joints and muscles begin to hurt;
• eyes become sensitive to light;
• fatigue, weakness and general malaise are felt;
• may arise nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• excitement sets in, which after 2-4 days is replaced by drowsiness, depression and increased fatigue;
• there is pain in the right hypochondrium due to enlargement of the liver;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• on the skin and mucous membranes, a rash occurs in the form of small hemorrhages.

After the fifth day of illness, severely ill patients may experience a rapid deterioration in kidney function and sudden liver or lung failure. Death occurs in the second week.

In recovering patients, improvement usually begins on the 9th or 10th day after the onset of the disease.

How is Crimean hemorrhagic fever treated?

against the virus itself helps drug ribavirin. But the most important thing in the treatment of Crimean hemorrhagic fever is to fight the symptoms and support organs and systems so that shock and failure do not occur.

For example, pour solutions through droppers to avoid dehydration and shock, support breathing with oxygen or mechanical ventilation, give painkillers, perform dialysis for kidney failure, that is, purify the blood with the help of a machine.

How to protect yourself from Crimean hemorrhagic fever

Preventive vaccination there is no Crimean hemorrhagic fever, so you can only try to avoid infection.

How to reduce the risk of tick-to-human transmission

These are the standard tips work against any mites:

• Wear long sleeves and trousers.
• Choose light-colored clothes, because it is easier to spot a tick on them.
• Treat yourself and clothing with acaricides, such as permethrin.
• Inspect yourself and clothing regularly to brush off the pest before it bites.
• Avoid places where there can be a lot of ticks, especially when they are active.
• Protect animals from ticks and control them in the premises where livestock and other inhabitants of the farm live.

How to Reduce the Risk of Animal-to-Human Virus Transmission

For those who work with animals need to:

• wear gloves and other protective clothing when handling animals or their tissues in endemic areas, especially when slaughtering and butchering carcasses in slaughterhouses or at home;
• keep animals in quarantine prior to entering slaughterhouses or routinely treat them with pesticides two weeks prior to slaughter.

How to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission of the virus

Still, these measures concern health workers more, but they are also needed. know:

• Avoid close physical contact with people infected with Crimean hemorrhagic fever.
• Wear gloves and protective clothing when caring for the sick.
• Regularly wash your hands after caring for or visiting sick people.