• Acute Mountain Sickness
• Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
• Dengue fever
• Diarrhoea
• Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever
• Influenza
• Lassa Fever
• Legionnaires Disease
• Leishmaniasis
• Leprosy
• Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)
• Plague
• Schistosomiasis
• Tick bourne encephalitis
• Tick Typhus
• Trypanosomiasis (African Sleeping sickness)

Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is caused by infection with a tick-borne virus. Bunyaviridae. First characterised in the Crimea, in 1944 the disease was hence named. It was then later recognized in 1969 as the cause of illness in the Congo, thus resulting in the current name of the disease. Package holidaymakers will be largely unaffected by this disease, however, healthcare workers in endemic areas should be aware of the illness and the correct infection control procedures to protect themselves.

Risk areas:

The disease is endemic in many countries in Africa, Europe and Asia, and during 2001, cases or outbreaks have been recorded in Kosovo, Albania, Iran, Pakistan, and South Africa (WHO November 2001)

Transmission:

The virus is caused by ticks and can be passed to humans from a tick bite or from direct contact with blood or other infected tissues from livestock.

Symptoms:

The incubation period is one to three days with main symptoms being sudden onset of fever, dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache, sore eyes, sensitivity to light and mood swings.

Treatment:

Specialised medical attention. For long term workers in these areas (e.g. volunteers etc) prevention is the best form of protection through regular examination of clothing and skin for ticks, and their removal; and use of repellents (e.g. DEET) and clothing that covers the body or have drawstrings on the bottom of trousers.