Assessing the Prevalence & Clinical Features of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Herat Regional Hospital, Afghanistan in 2024
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Abstract
Background: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a severe viral infection caused by the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV). We aimed to assess the prevalence of CCHFV among individuals with clinical symptoms indicative of CCHF at the Herat regional hospital, Afghanistan in 2024, which provides diagnostic and treatment services to suspected CCHF patients in western Afghanistan.
Methods: We used secondary data collected by Surveillance Department of the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). Samples were collected from the provinces of Herat, Farah, Badghis, and Ghor. A retrospective cross-sectional design was employed. Participants were categorized into two groups (29 and 115 cases in each group) based on their CCHFV test results. Data included demographic information, clinical symptoms, and exposure history related to tick bites and contact with infected individuals. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 25, employing Chi-square tests for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables.
Results: Among the 144 participants, 29 (19.7%) tested positive for CCHFV, with the highest incidence occurring in July. The demographic profile indicated that 65.5% of positive cases were male, with a mean age of 33.2 years. Notably, 24.1% of the positive cohort reported tick bites, indicating a possible association between tick exposure and infection rates. All participants reported headaches and fever. Statistically significant differences (P-value < 0.05) were observed in three symptoms among positive group: epistaxis (55.2% ), conjunctival hemorrhage (3.4%), and vaginal bleeding (13.8%). Additionally, 93.1% of the positive group and 96.5% of the negative group received antiviral therapy.
Conclusion: The findings underscore the need for targeted public health interventions, including enhanced surveillance and community education on tick prevention.
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