ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s health ministry confirmed on Tuesday a new case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in the northern Duhok province.
“A 28 year-old resident of Batifa district in [Duhok’s] Zakho area, who works as a livestock farmer and had contact with animals,” developed symptoms of CCHF, the ministry said in a statement.
“Several diagnostic procedures and medical treatments have been undertaken,” the statement added, noting that the patient is currently under medical supervision and his condition is stable.
The ministry further urged anyone working with animals to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms related to the disease.
This is the fifth confirmed CCHF case in the Kurdistan Region this year. Previously, two cases - including one fatal - were reported in Duhok province, one in Koya, and another individual originally from Basra tested positive in Erbil.
CCHF is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted through multiple routes, including bites from infected ticks, contact with blood or tissues of infected animals, exposure to bodily fluids of infected persons, and consumption of raw or undercooked meat from infected livestock.
As of early May, Iraq had reported 53 confirmed infections and seven deaths, according to Riyadh al-Halfi, director general of the Public Health Directorate at the federal health ministry.
Preventive measures continue to be implemented, including the use of protective gear such as gloves, masks, and goggles, especially for those handling animals or meat. Veterinary hospitals have also launched large-scale tick control campaigns since late April.
The Iraqi government stated in April that it is “exerting full efforts” to contain the outbreak, reassuring citizens that “with proper measures in place, transmission to citizens will remain rare.” The federal health ministry urged caution when handling meat, recommending the use of protective gloves and separate utensils for raw meat.
