year 18, Issue 4 (July - August 2024)
Iran J Med Microbiol 2024, 18(4): 223-229 |
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I. Khaleel R, Haseeb Hwaid A, Younis Fadhil H, M. Aufi I, R. Aakef I, A. Hussein A et al . Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) Outbreak in Iraq During 2021. Iran J Med Microbiol 2024; 18 (4) :223-229
URL: http://ijmm.ir/article-1-2441-en.html
URL: http://ijmm.ir/article-1-2441-en.html
Raghad I. Khaleel1 
, Asmaa Haseeb Hwaid2 , Hula Younis Fadhil3 , Iman M. Aufi1 , Ihab R. Aakef1 , Ahmed A. Hussein1 , Noora A. Abdulhadi1
, Asmaa Haseeb Hwaid2 , Hula Younis Fadhil3 , Iman M. Aufi1 , Ihab R. Aakef1 , Ahmed A. Hussein1 , Noora A. Abdulhadi1
1- Department of Public Health, Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq
2- Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq ,Asmaa.haseeb@ymail.com
3- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
2- Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq ,
3- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
Abstract: (686 Views)
Background and Aim: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral infection transmitted by ticks. It is classified as a biosafety level (4) global pathogen with fatality rate of approximately 50%. This epidemiological survey aimed to explore the CCHF infection rate in Iraq during 2021.
Materials and Methods: Saved samples from May to December 2021 (61 samples) collected from the suspected patients who attended health departments in eight Iraqi governorates (Dhi Qar, Baghdad, Nineveh, Babel, Erbil, Diyala, Anbar and Muthanna) were examined. Molecular detection of CCHF viral RNA was performed via real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (rRT-PCR). The results were analyzed by GraphPad Prism and SPSS software.
Results: CCHF was detected in 18 (29.5%) suspected samples. The epidemiological investigation documented 8 (44.44%) fatalities among the individuals who tested positive. Most diagnosed cases and deaths were in the age group ≤40 years, and the highest percentage of positive cases of CCHF infection (14, 77.8%) was detected in Dhi Qar with highly significant statistical difference (P<0.01) compared to other provinces.
Conclusion: Although the number of cases studied is relatively small and may not represent the broader situation of CCHF in Iraq, it can be considered a health concern in the region. Therefore, there is an urgent need to conduct epidemiological surveys to reduce the disease incidence and detect the extent of the spread of ticks that transmit the virus.
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Medical Virology
Received: 2024/07/2 | Accepted: 2024/09/12 | ePublished: 2024/09/29
Received: 2024/07/2 | Accepted: 2024/09/12 | ePublished: 2024/09/29
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