Spain – Hemorrhagic Fever
Spain: First Human Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Cases in Western Europe
According to Madrid health authorities, 1 locally acquired case of tick-borne Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) occurred in late August 2016; infection was likely acquired in the rural countryside in southern Castilla y León Autonomous Community. A human case of CCHF had never been reported in this country or Western Europe; the virus causing CCHF has been detected in ticks in Spain since 2010.
A secondary case occurred in a health care worker who cared for the index case at Hospital Infanta Leonor in Madrid. Approximately 200 contacts of both cases are being monitored; no new cases have been detected. Infection in travelers is rare. Tick precautions are recommended. Travelers should avoid touching infected livestock animal tissues or blood in affected area. Travelers to affected area should avoid direct contact with blood or body fluids of acutely ill patients.
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