Peregraf
The Kirkuk Health Department has reported a second fatality from Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) within just three days, raising concerns over the rapid spread of the deadly virus in the region.
The latest victim, Yadgar Nuri, a young nurse working in the emergency department of Kirkuk General Teaching Hospital, contracted the virus while on duty. Officials confirmed that she exhibited dengue-like symptoms before her death.
This follows the death of a butcher from Daquq on Thursday (April 17), who also succumbed to the disease.
In response to the worsening outbreak, the Kirkuk Health Department has launched an emergency public health awareness campaign, urging residents to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear.
CCHF is a tick-borne viral disease that can spread from animals to humans and between humans through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Symptoms include sudden high fever, severe muscle and back pain, dizziness, vomiting, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding (from the nose, mouth, or other mucous membranes).
The disease has seen a concerning resurgence in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in recent years. In 2023, Iraqi health authorities recorded 265 confirmed cases nationwide, including 11 in the Kurdistan Region, with 69 deaths in Iraq and five in the Kurdistan Region, according to health ministry data.
Health officials stress the importance of early diagnosis, strict hygiene measures, and avoiding contact with livestock and ticks to curb further infections.