The boy, a 14-year-old living in Pakistan, tested positive for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), which is usually transmitted through ticks infected with the disease. The boy was one of a number of people suspected to have been infected. The disease has a shockingly high mortality rate, with nearly half (40%) of people dying as a result, the World Health Organization has previously reported.
Transmission and Symptoms
It's usually transmitted through infected tick bites or through direct contact with animal blood that has been infected. The disease is endemic in countries with warmer climates, but experts believe it could spread to the UK. Fatima Jinnah Chest hospital, based in the Pakistani city of Quetta, told Arab News that the teenager had been infected. The facility's deputy medical superintendent Dr Zubari Mandokhail said: “The infected patient is being treated in the Congo isolation ward, but we have another suspected Congo patient whose report is yet to be confirmed."
CCHF Outbreak in Pakistan
In 2024, Pakistan said it had recorded 84 people infected with CCHF, with five of them having been killed by the disease. In endemic countries, hospitals will usually see a surge in cases around the Islamic festival of Eid. It comes after the Hajj pilgrimage, in which Muslims will buy and slaughter animals en masse.
Severe Symptoms and Global Spread
The symptoms that come with a CCHF infection range from a mild flu-like illness to a severe disease in which patients will bleed from the eyes, experience shock and organ failure. It was first detected in 1944 in Crimea, and is now considered endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and some countries in Asia. However, scientists believe the disease could be on the move, spreading from the borders of its usual territories. This means countries like Britain and France could soon see cases as global temperatures warm.
Global Concerns and Prevention
In Spain, there have been around 15 cases of CCHF since it was first detected back in 2016. It's been listed as one of 36 “priority diseases”, according to the WHO, who believe it's one of the biggest threats to public health. Chief scientific advisor at the UK Health Security Agency Professor Isabel Oliver said the the current risk is still “very low” to the UK public, but that this could change depending on the “changing climate and environment”.
Last year, a report found that disease-ridden bugs - carrying a number of severe diseases - had been detected in 26 European countries. These included dengue, chikungunya, West Nile disease, yellow fever and Zika.
A Growing Threat
The recent case in Pakistan highlights the potential for CCHF to spread beyond its traditional endemic regions, driven by factors such as climate change and increased travel. It serves as a reminder for countries outside of endemic zones to be vigilant about the disease and implement appropriate preventative measures. Public health authorities worldwide are closely monitoring the situation and working to raise awareness about the risks and necessary precautions. The increasing spread of CCHF underscores the need for robust surveillance systems, effective diagnostics, and prompt treatment to mitigate the impact of this potentially fatal disease.
