Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

C rimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic, vector-borne disease caused by a virus in the Bunyaviridae family, of the genus Nairovirus. This disease affects humans and animals very differently. In humans, CCHF can vary from asymptomatic infection to severe haemorrhagic fever, with death occurring in up to 30% of severely ill patients. Many other species of mammals and some birds can be infected with CCHF virus, but clinical disease has not been described in any species other than humans. The occurrence of asymptomatic infection poses a significant challenge to national Veterinary Services in the prevention, detection and control of CCHF among animals. Animals and ticks play a key role in the epidemiology and maintenance of CCHF virus. The natural cycle of the virus is associated mainly with ticks, predominantly