Archive image of a tick, responsible for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, detected in a patient in El Bierzo
Health authorities have confirmed a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in El Bierzo, León
The affected person has a tick bite and remains stable, in strict isolation and with follow-up of his evolution
Health authorities have traced their contacts to inform them of the protocol to follow to avoid contagion.
Health authorities have identified a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (FHCC) in the Leone region of The Bierzowhere a patient was to be admitted to the regional hospital in Ponferrada be treated for your symptoms.
Specifically, the male tick bite and stay in shape constantalthough, given the clinical seriousness that this pathology entails, it remains in strict isolation and among the relevant protective measures and provided for this type of situation by health professionals.
It was the Territorial Health Service Epidemiology Section of the Board of Directors of León, who, in collaboration with the health professionals of the El Bierzo Hospital, have in turn identified the contacts of the affected person for, in the same way as it is done with the SARS coronavirus -CoV-2, have traceability and indicate the follow-up to be carried out.
In this sense, the protocol dictates the need for the affected person to monitor your body temperature regularly and inform your referring epidemiologist of any change in your state of health.
After detecting the case, Public Health sent blood samples from the affected person to the Majadahonda National Microbiology Center of the Carlos III Health Institute, in Madrid, which was responsible for confirming that it is indeed a infection for him virus of Crimea-Congo.
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Crimean-Congo fever
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is caused by a virus whose main transmission mechanism is the bite of ticks of the genus ‘Hyalomme‘, although it can also spread from person to person for blood contact oh fluids of the patient, which can occur especially among healthcare personnel when they are not properly protected. There is no vaccine available for humans or animals, nor is there a specific drug that specifically cures it.
It is an endemic pathology in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, which has always been considered an exotic disease in Spain, but which is gaining a certain presence with increasing frequency.
The period of incubation the average is usually one to three dayswith a maximum of nine, although if caused by contact with fluids from a patient, it may spread to a maximum of 13.
The main symptoms are usually: fever, muscle pain and/or headache, dizziness and sensitivity to light. There may also be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal and throat pain, mood swings and confusion. Two to four days later, drowsiness and depression are common. In addition, critically ill patients may experience rapid renal failure oh liver or lung failure.
In most cases, the improvement begins from the ninth day. According to the WHO, the antiviral Ribavirinboth in oral and intravenous form, to combat it, but its effectiveness is limited, and for this reason the main thing in treating the disease is to lessen the effects of the symptoms while waiting for the infection to resolve itself from herself.