Crimean‑Congo hemorrhagic fever: Risk factors and control measures for the infection abatement (Review)

Aslam,Saadia; Latif,Muhammad  Shahzad; Daud,Muhammad; Rahman,Zia  Ur; Tabassum,Bushra; Riaz,Muhammad  Sohail; Khan,Anwar; Tariq,Muhammad; Husnain,Tayyab

doi:10.3892/br.2015.545

Crimean‑Congo hemorrhagic fever: Risk factors and control measures for the infection abatement (Review)

Authors:
- Saadia Aslam
- Muhammad Shahzad Latif
- Muhammad Daud
- Zia Ur Rahman
- Bushra Tabassum
- Muhammad Sohail Riaz
- Anwar Khan
- Muhammad Tariq
- Tayyab Husnain
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Affiliations: National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore 53700, Pakistan, Department of Chemistry, Government College University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Published online on: November 18, 2015 https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2015.545
Pages: 15-20

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Abstract

Crimean‑Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a vector‑borne viral disease, widely distributed in different regions of the world. The fever is caused by the CCHF virus (CCHFV), which belongs to the Nairovirus genus and Bunyaviridae family. The virus is clustered in seven genotypes, which are Africa‑1, Africa‑2, Africa‑3, Europe‑1, Europe‑2, Asia‑1 and Asia‑2. The virus is highly pathogenic in nature, easily transmissible and has a high case fatality rate of 10‑40%. The reservoir and vector of CCHFV are the ticks of the Hyalomma genus. Therefore, the circulation of this virus depends upon the distribution of the ticks. The virus can be transmitted from tick to animal, animal to human and human to human. The major symptoms include headache, high fever, abdominal pain, myalgia, hypotension and flushed face. As the disease progresses, severe symptoms start appearing, which include petechiae, ecchymosis, epistaxis, bleeding gums and emesis. Enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, antigen detection, serum neutralization and isolation of the virus by cell culture are the diagnostic techniques used for this viral infection. There is no specific antiviral therapy available thus far. However, ribavirin has been approved by the World Health Organization for the treatment of CCHFV infection. Awareness campaigns regarding the risk factors and control measures can aid in reducing the spread of this disease to a greater extent, particularly in developing countries.

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