Big Epidemic of Small City: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is the most common tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever in our country and the world. While investigating the etiology of fever, tick contact should be questioned, especially in rural areas, and CCHF should be remembered. This study aimed to review the characteristics of the cases detected in Bayburt, one of the cities where CCHF is endemic.

A total of 100 patients aged 16 years and older who were diagnosed with CCHF in our clinic between April 2020 and October 2022 were included in the study. Demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics, treatments, and prognoses of the patients were reviewed retrospectively through the hospital automation system and CCHF information system of The Ministry of Health.

Sixty one (61%) of the patients included in the study were male, and their primary age (± standard deviation) was 50.4±15.7. 77% of the patients engaged in farming and or animal husbandry, and 71% were living in rural areas. The highest number of cases was in June and July. 63% of the patients had a history of a tick bite. At the first presentation, there were complaints of fatigue (95%), generalized body pain (84%), headache (67%), and fever (65%), in order of frequency. Ribavirin was started in 52 (52%) patients. One patient admitted in the late period died, and 99 patients were discharged with good recovery.

CCHF is an important public health problem that has been causing seasonal epidemics in our country for nearly two decades. Although sporadic cases have been reported from almost every region, the disease is endemic in some areas. Since signs and symptoms are not specific, the disease can be easily missed when tick contact is not questioned. Therefore CCHF should be considered in patients presenting with fever and thrombocytopenia in rural areas, especially in the spring and summer months.