NCDC head talks increase of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever cases

A total of 42 cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever have been confirmed in Georgia in the last seven months, with two resulting in death and the lethality rate standing at 4.7 percent, Amiran Gamkrelidze, the Head of the Georgian National Centre for Disease Control, told local media outlet Interpressnews on Tuesday. 

In an interview, Gamkrelidze noted this year the Georgian health authorities registered the most cases compared to the previous years, adding the disease in the country first appeared in 2009 with overall 164 confirmed cases and 21 deaths caused by the disease since then.

He also called Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever “one of the most severe diseases,” pointing out high fever, dry mouth, dizziness, vomiting, and redness of mucous membranes among its symptoms. 

• Three women die from Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever in Georgia

Widespread in African, Asian countries, the Balkans, the Middle East, Russia and Turkey, the disease in Georgia is endemic, the health official said, adding it was transmitted by ticks from various animals, especially domestic ones.

Gamkrelidze stressed the importance of timely treatment of the disease in the earlier stage and noted it was important for agricultural and medical workers to be well informed about the symptoms of the disease.