16 die of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Iraq

6/6/2025 6:09

The Iraqi Health Ministry said Thursday that 16 people have died of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) across the country since the beginning of this year.

A total of 107 cases of CCHF have been recorded this year, and 16 of them died, the ministry's spokesman, Saif al-Badr, said in a statement.

The spokesman noted that the southern province of Dhi Qar recorded the highest number of infections, with 31 cases and one death, followed by Baghdad with 16 cases and five deaths.

Al-Badr recommended that citizens purchase meat from health-approved slaughterhouses, store meat at very low freezing temperatures, and ensure that it is cooked at high temperatures to eliminate pathogens as the festival of Eid al-Adha approaches.

Since the late 1970s, CCHF has been the most common viral hemorrhagic fever in Iraq. It is transmitted to humans mainly through tick bites or contact with blood and tissues of infected animals, especially livestock.

CCHF, characterized by fever, muscle aches, headache, and bleeding, has a high fatality rate ranging from 10 percent to 40 percent.

Iraq has experienced recurring outbreaks of CCHF since then. The largest outbreak occurred in 2023 with over 587 confirmed cases and 83 deaths, predominantly affecting southern provinces.