Terrifying tick-borne virus
Travel Warning For Spain’s Salamanca: 1 in 3 Infected With CCHF Will Die
The UK Health Security Agency labels CCHF a major public health threat, with 10,000–15,000 global cases annually, including about 500 deaths, though underreporting is likely.
Tourists planning a trip to Spain have been warned after a confirmed case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) was detected in Salamanca, a popular travel destination, as reported by Israel Hayom.
CCHF is prevalent in Africa, Southern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Spain reported its first case in 2013, Portugal in 2024, and Israel detected it in cattle in September 2024. The virus, transmitted through tick bites or contact with infected animal bodily fluids, poses no risk via regulated meat or pasteurized milk.
According to the UK’s Travel Health Pro, the tick-borne virus can cause mild symptoms like fever, headaches, and dizziness, but severe cases may lead to bleeding, bruising, organ failure, or death, with a mortality rate of up to 40% per Travel Health Pro and 30% per the World Health Organization.
No specific treatments exist, but the antiviral drug ribavirin has shown some success. Asymptomatic cases complicate detection, increasing the risk of spread, according to Travel Health Pro.
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