Cengizhan Büyükdağ

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Approximately 10,000–15,000 cases of CCHF occur annually worldwide, although more definitive numbers are difficult to ascertain; up to 88% of cases are thought to be subclinical  unrecognized, or occur in locations with limited disease surveillance or laboratory testing capability (https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/5/23-1647_article). 

The fatality rate ranges from 5% to 30% (from CDC) and 10%-40% according to WHO, and is highly dependent on the strain circulating. These outbreaks are mostly seasonal, and there can be sudden spikes (e.g., Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever cases surged from 33 in 2021 to 511 by August 2023, signaling a rapid rise. - for Iraq). This can be due to mutations in the virus that allows from tick-to-human spread. Farmers are also in contact with ticks, and in summer, ticks are more active. 

With this mortality rate, 500-4000 deaths are due to CCHFv per year. Even PPI for farmers or people who are in rural areas may be beneficial to bring these numbers down. Testing is also limited due to it being widespread in rural and low income areas.

Most research is conducted in BSL4 laboratories in countried that do not have any CCHFV cases, and BSL3 for countries who have cases of CCHFV, which is a limiting factor for research.

There is no vaccine or direct antiviral treatment available, although there are efforts to develop a vaccine (https://www.cchfvaccine.eu/)

Overall, I do believe this is a neglected issue and there should be a way to prevent these possible deaths due to outbreaks, through the ways I mentioned. I do believe the numbers are significant enough to spend funding to solve this issue.