Discarded the suspected case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Catalonia

BarcelonaThe Department of Health reported this Saturday afternoon that the suspected case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, hospitalized in the high-level treatment and isolation unit of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, has tested negative for the tests performed. It is a person who had been in the north of Spain, an area where the ticks that transmit the disease are present, and presented a compatible clinical picture, which led health professionals to suspect it and activate the relevant protocol. Once the case has been ruled out, the patient will continue to be studied at the hospital to clarify their diagnosis. Health officials emphasize that the episode poses no danger to the population.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a disease transmitted by ticks, and in Spain it was first detected in these animals in 2010. However, it was not until 2016 that the first cases in humans were detected. In Catalonia there have been other suspected cases, but none have been confirmed to date. This year in Europe only one case has been detected, an 84-year-old man who was infected in Salamanca and died on Friday at the Hospital Gómez Ulla in Madrid, where he was in isolation.

The man's contacts have already been identified for follow-up, which consists of periodically monitoring his body temperature and reporting any changes in his health status to his reference epidemiologist. The disease has no specific treatment or vaccines for its prevention. It is a serious, notifiable disease of public health importance that requires management and isolation in specialized units such as the one at the Hospital Clínic.

The vast majority of people experience the disease asymptomatically and, if symptoms develop, most clinical cases are mild. In some cases, however, the disease worsens, with a mortality rate that can reach up to 30%. The ECDC explains that the risk of contracting the disease among people living in areas of the country where the virus is known to be present is low. However, it warns that the risk increases when carrying out activities that may involve exposure to ticks, such as outdoor excursions.

Sudden symptoms

After a tick bite, the incubation period is generally one to three days, but can last up to a week and a half. Once the infection occurs, symptoms begin suddenly, including fever, muscle pain, dizziness, sore throat, headache, and eye irritation, among others. There may also be nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, followed by abrupt mood swings and confusion. As there is no specific treatment available, supportive therapies can improve the prognosis, provided they are administered early.

Experts warn that with climate change, which favors the proliferation of ticks, these diseases will become increasingly frequent. In Catalonia, the tick population is increasing, which is why, when engaging in outdoor activities, it is important to wear long-sleeved clothing and avoid open footwear, use repellent, and, whenever possible, avoid walking through areas of dense vegetation. Upon returning from an excursion, pets and equipment should be examined, as well as the body, to detect any potential ticks or bites. According to the Department of Health, bites are usually not painful and attached ticks can go unnoticed, which is why they insist on thoroughly checking the entire body.