The Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic fever has killed seven people in 48 hours in Mopti, Mali, reports said on Wednesday.
There is panic in the Douentza circle. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever has just appeared. The information has been confirmed by the regional health director of Mopti. Of the 14 cases recorded, 7 have already died in less than 48 hours. The first cases have been arriving at the Mopti regional hospital since February 1.
“People suspected of being infected have been quarantined,” said regional medical authorities.
First detected in 1944 among Soviet soldiers in the Crimea, the fever was also first identified in 1956 in Congo, hence its name Crimea-Congo.
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus causes outbreaks of severe viral haemorrhagic fever.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus is transmitted mainly to humans from ticks and farm animals. Human-to-human transmission can occur as a result of direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or body fluids of infected individuals.
This epidemic comes at a time when Malian health authorities are implementing strategies to protect the country from China’s Coronavirus.
MDS/cgd/lb/abj/APA