Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: a comprehensive review

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is an emerging tick-born zoonotic disease in India which is caused by Nairovirus of Bunyaviridae family. CCHF is reported from about 30 countries of the world. An outbreak of CCHF has been reported two years back in Gujarat which killed four people including two physicians, one nurse and a rural housewife. Tick bite, contact with infected material and nosocomial routes are the main routes of infection. This disease is not much important in animals as animals are asymptomatic but domestic livestock play a vital role in the transmission of disease to humans. So the persons associated with animals like veterinarians, farmers and slaughter house workers are also at the high risk of getting the infection. The disease has a great public health importance. Rapid diagnosis of disease is very important. The advent of molecular techniques including real-time PCR allow the rapid diagnosis of CCHF. There are limited treatment options for CCHF. Ribavirin is the only known drug which is effective against CCHF.