Senegal confirms 1st death from Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever

By Fatma Esma Arslan

DAKAR, Senegal (AA) - Senegal has confirmed the first death from the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus.

The 35-year-old patient was admitted to the Dalal Jamm Hospital in the capital Dakar after he developed symptoms, the Health Ministry said in a statement late Saturday.

The CCHF virus is generally transmitted from cattle and sheep to humans by exposure to infected animal blood or by bites from infected ticks.

Removal of ticks from animals using unprotected hands is often a source of infection.

The infection can also spread from person to person by infected blood.

CCHF outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 40%, according to the WHO. The virus is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Asia.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar