Peregraf
The Kurdistan Region has recorded its first death from Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), health officials confirmed on Saturday.
A 45-year-old woman from the Shiladze community in Amedi district died after four days of treatment at Azadi Teaching Hospital in Duhok. According to the Duhok Health Directorate, the woman was admitted to Azadi Teaching Hospital on May 7, and initial tests sent to Baghdad confirmed the diagnosis.
“Although the results initially suggested dengue fever, further investigation confirmed it was a case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever,” the directorate said in a statement. No other CCHF cases have been registered in Duhok province so far, it added.
This fatality comes shortly after the Kurdistan Region confirmed its first official CCHF case on May 2. The patient, a 42-year-old butcher from Koya, was diagnosed after two days of observation and is currently receiving treatment in Erbil. His condition remains stable, according to the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry has warned of a recent increase in CCHF cases in other parts of Iraq, particularly Kirkuk, where multiple infections and fatalities have been reported.
Dr. Sarkar Surchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, urged the public to remain vigilant and follow health guidelines, especially those who work with livestock or animal products. “We ask citizens to follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Health. I wish you all safety,” he said.
CCHF is a viral disease transmitted by ticks or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues, and can be fatal in severe cases.