Abstract
Background: Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever
(CCHF) is a severe illness characterised by fever,
bleeding and high case-fatality rates. The disease is
caused by CCHF virus (CCHFV), transmitted by ticks
and infectious body fluids and tissues. Aim: After CCHF
was diagnosed in three persons in 2023, we aimed to
investigate the presence of antibodies against CCHFV
in healthcare workers (HCW), sheep and goats, and
of CCHFV in ticks, in an area in North Macedonia and
characterise virus strains. Methods: In 2023, we collected blood samples from HCWs involved in treating CCHF patients and sera and ticks from sheep and
goats in the village in North Macedonia where the
index case resided. The blood samples were analysed
by ELISA. Ticks were tested for presence of CCHFV, and
the virus from a CCHF case was sequenced. Results:
Samples from four of 52 HCWs and 10 of 17 small ruminants had antibodies against CCHFV. The virus was not detected from any of the 24 Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. The virus strain from the index case clustered with
regional strains within the Europe-1 lineage (genotype
V) group and was closest to strains from Kosovo‡.
Conclusion: This report shows CCHFV is endemic in
North Macedonia. Raising awareness of the risk factors and educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the virus is important.
Healthcare workers need to be aware of the disease.
Early detection, robust diagnostic methods, surveillance and collaborative efforts are necessary to prevent and control CCHF in the affected regions.
(CCHF) is a severe illness characterised by fever,
bleeding and high case-fatality rates. The disease is
caused by CCHF virus (CCHFV), transmitted by ticks
and infectious body fluids and tissues. Aim: After CCHF
was diagnosed in three persons in 2023, we aimed to
investigate the presence of antibodies against CCHFV
in healthcare workers (HCW), sheep and goats, and
of CCHFV in ticks, in an area in North Macedonia and
characterise virus strains. Methods: In 2023, we collected blood samples from HCWs involved in treating CCHF patients and sera and ticks from sheep and
goats in the village in North Macedonia where the
index case resided. The blood samples were analysed
by ELISA. Ticks were tested for presence of CCHFV, and
the virus from a CCHF case was sequenced. Results:
Samples from four of 52 HCWs and 10 of 17 small ruminants had antibodies against CCHFV. The virus was not detected from any of the 24 Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. The virus strain from the index case clustered with
regional strains within the Europe-1 lineage (genotype
V) group and was closest to strains from Kosovo‡.
Conclusion: This report shows CCHFV is endemic in
North Macedonia. Raising awareness of the risk factors and educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the virus is important.
Healthcare workers need to be aware of the disease.
Early detection, robust diagnostic methods, surveillance and collaborative efforts are necessary to prevent and control CCHF in the affected regions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2400286 |
| Journal | Eurosurveillance |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Jan 2025 |