A killer virus spreading across Africa, the Middle East and parts of Europe is feared to be expanding out of its usual territories and could reach the UK, experts have warned.
Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a virus usually transmitted by ticks, and is endemic in all of Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia, with cases also reported in Spain. The virus, which can also be spread from person to person, has a fatality rate of between 10% and 40% and there is currently no vaccine available, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Last week, insiders speaking to Parliament's Science, Innovation and Technology Committee said it was "highly likely" there could soon be cases of CCHF in the UK. It's thought that climate change could be causing the disease to expand out of its usual territories and move towards the likes of Britain and France, The Mirror reports.
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During the hearing, James Wood, head of veterinary medicine at Cambridge University, said CCHF could find its way to the UK "through our ticks, at some point". The virus, which causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks, has been described as the current biggest threat to public health.
Symptoms of CCHF
Symptoms of CCHF appear suddenly and typically include fever, myalgia, (muscle ache), dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache, sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light). There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion.
Other signs of the disease can include tachycardia (fast heart rate), lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes), and a petechial rash (a rash caused by bleeding into the skin) in the mouth and throat, and on the skin. Patients who become severely ill with the virus may experience rapid kidney deterioration, sudden liver failure or pulmonary failure after the fifth day of illness, the World Health Organisation said.
Following infection by a tick bite, the incubation period of the virus is usually one to three days, with a maximum of nine days. The incubation period following contact with infected blood or tissues is usually five to six days, with a documented maximum of 13 days.
The mortality rate from CCHF is approximately 30%, with death occurring in the second week of illness, according to the WHO. In patients who recover, improvement generally begins on the ninth or tenth day after the onset of illness.
How CCHF is spread
The CCHF virus is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter, according to the WHO. The majority of cases have occurred in people involved in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and vets.
The virus can spread from person to person as a result of close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of an infected person. Hospital-acquired infections can also occur due to improper sterilization of medical equipment, re-use of needles and contamination of medical supplies, the WHO added.
