The Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus is circulating in Corsica. The information was revealed by THE Point, Wednesday April 24. The weekly cites a French study published in the American journal Emerging Infectious Diseasespublished by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CFC), the American health authorities. “We report the detection of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHF) in Corsica, announces the research team from the University of Corte, in Haute-Corse. We identified the African genotype I of CCHFV in ticks collected from cattle in 2 different sites in the south-east and central-west of Corsica.”
What is Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever?
The virus, from the Nairovirus family, is transmitted to humans mainly through tick bites. It is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia. In France, it was detected on a cattle farm in the Pyrénées-Orientales last fall. The World Health Organization indicates the first symptoms appear suddenly: fever, muscle pain, dizziness, stiffness, neck pain, back pain, headache, eye sensitivity, etc. Some people develop serious forms, which lead to hemorrhages: the risk of death is then between 10 and 40%. In France, no human cases have been detected. “A dozen indigenous human cases of CCHF have been reported in Spain since 2016, including some in healthcare professionals.however, alerts Public Health France.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: a virus present on ticks and livestock
In Corsica, the research team has been monitoring the virus for several years. The authors specify that they conducted a first study between 2014 and 2016 on herds of cows, goats and sheep. The virus was found in 9.1% of animals, and the highest rates were in cattle. “A subsequent surveillance study of 8,051 ticks collected from wild (wild boar, deer and mouflon) and domestic (cattle, horses, sheep) animals between 2016 and 2020 failed to detect FHCC RNA.they note.
Since 2022, Corsican researchers have continued to monitor the virus and its evolution: twice a month, they collect ticks from cattle in two slaughterhouses on the island. It was these new investigations that allowed them to spot the virus on ticks. Faced with this discovery, they call for caution. “The threat of possible expansion and continued circulation of the virus in Western Europe must not be ignoredthey estimate. Health professionals and other groups at risk of infection, including hunters and farmers, should be informed of the circulation of FHCC in Corsica.”
How to protect yourself from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever?
In response to the magazine article THE Point, The Corsica Regional Health Agency published new details on Wednesday April 24. “The presence of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus has been known in Corsica for several years in cattle, she recalls. What is new is the detection of the disease in ticks, insect vectors and therefore making the disease potentially transmissible to humans..”
New prevention messages should be published soon but the agency repeats some basic principles: in the forest, in a garden or in the bush, you must wear closed shoes and light-colored clothing to spot any ticks. When returning from each outing, you must scrupulously check that no ticks are present on the body. “In the event of a bite, immediately remove the attached ticks using a tick remover or fine tweezers (under no circumstances use ether or any other product) and disinfect the wound, recommends the ARS. Monitor the sting area for several days and consult your doctor if you experience symptoms (fever, fatigue, redness)..”
