CCHF in Salamanca, Spain

The General Directorate of Public Health in Castilla y Leon, Spain has confirmed that a case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been detected in a patient being treated in the Salamanca University Assistance Complex.

The patient was bitten by a tick in a pine forest in the province of Salamanca in late May and later sought medical attention, after suffering a high fever, which did not improve through time. As of 16 June 2020, the patient is in a stable condition in an infectious diseases unit.

CCHF is uncommon in Spain although a small number of cases have been identified in recent years.

Advice for travellers

CCHF is a viral haemorrhagic fever found in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe/the Balkans and the Middle East, which generally presents a low risk to the average traveller. CCHF is spread by infected ticks from an animal reservoir such as cattle, sheep and goats, and can also be transmitted by contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected animal or person. Avoidance of tick bites is essential in risk areas.

Further information on CCHF can be found on the TRAVAX (for health professionals) and fitfortravel (for the general public) websites.

Source: TRAVAX, 16 June 2020