The Nineveh provincial health directorate reported the first case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) this year.
The patient is a 27-year-old laborer from Qayyarah district south of Mosul, was admitted to hospital on May 15 with suspected infection before laboratory results received showing it was confirmed this week.
In addition to this case in Nineveh, 15 additional confirmed cases have been reported in Iraq- nine in Dhi Qar, five in Diyala, and one in Kirkuk.
The Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever 101
CCHF outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 40%.
The virus is primarily transmitted to people from ticks and livestock animals. Human-to-human transmission can occur resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected persons.
CCHF is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia, in countries south of the 50th parallel north.
There is no vaccine available for either people or animals.