Senegal: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever case reported in Dakar
The Senegal Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a confirmed case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Dakar on March 22.
The case, a 25-year-old male animal breeder from Ndoffanne district, presented at the national hospital in Dakar with symptoms of high fever, skin rashes and bleeding.
The patient is reportedly stabile.
CCHF virus was confirmed by PCR by the Institut Pasteur de Dakar.
Senegal last reported a CCHF outbreak in last year when seven cases and two deaths recorded in six regions of the country.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family. The CCHF virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 10–40%.
Animals become infected by the bite of infected ticks and the virus remains in their bloodstream for about one week after infection, allowing the tick-animal-tick cycle to continue when another tick bites. Although a number of tick genera are capable of becoming infected with CCHF virus, ticks of the genus Hyalomma are the principal vector.
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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. The majority of cases have occurred in people involved in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians. Human-to-human transmission is possible.