The health authority of Castile and León has confirmed the existence of a case of Crimean-Gongo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) caused by the bite of a tick an elderly man who is hospitalized in Salamancasources from the regional administration reported this Saturday.
The patient is in a stable situation, in serious condition, at the Salamanca Hospital and with the relevant isolation measures and protection for these types of situations.
The case has been confirmed by the Ministry of Health after the analyzes carried out by the National Microbiology Center of the Carlos III Health Institute, located in Majadahonda (Madrid).
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is caused by a virus that primarily transmits tick bite of the ‘Hyaloma’ genus, as has happened in this case, although it can also communicate between people through contact with the patient’s blood or fluids.
The health authorities, as preventive measures, remember the importance of wear appropriate clothing and footwear during outings in the countryside, as well as traveling along roads and using repellents for both people and pets.
Ticks that may have attached should be removed as soon as possible and in an appropriate way, preferably by health professionals, according to the same sources.
