The National Organization of Public Health (ESDY) informs that a domestic incident of Crimea – Congo in a settlement of the Municipality of Elassona of the Regional Unit of Larissa, Region of Thessaly, was recently recorded. It is a patient over the age of 70, who was hospitalized in a hospital with a severely aggravated clinical picture and ended up.
Crimea -Congo hemorrhagic fever is a disease caused by a virus and is transmitted by stinging infected ticks or by direct contact with blood, tissues, body fluids or secretions of infected ticks, humans or animals. Wild and domestic animals may have the virus in their body for a few days, without being ill, but they can infect ticks and in turn transmitting the virus to other animals or humans.
The disease is manifested by high symptoms and gravity, from asymptomatic infection (in about 85% of cases) or mild fever, to very severe disease. Symptoms occur 1-14 days after exposure and may include sudden onset of symptoms, such as fever, chill, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, fatigue, dizziness, sore throat, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. They may follow disorders of mood and level of consciousness. Hemorrhagic manifestations, polyorganic deficiency and circulatory shock are presented in serious cases. The disease has high mortality (30-50% in hospitalized patients) as there is no specific treatment.
Crimean -Congo hemorrhagic fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever, widespread worldwide, which is transmitted by ticks, with about 10,000-15,000 infections a year. Sporadic cases and epidemics of the disease have been recorded in more than 30 countries in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. In Europe and neighboring countries there have been cases of cases in the Balkans (Bulgaria, Albania, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia) and Spain, Portugal, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. In Greece, another domestic case of the disease has previously been recorded in 2008 (in Thrace).
High -risk groups belong to people who have activities in areas where there are ticks, that is, in the countryside, in rural or mountainous areas, as well as those who come into contact with blood / body fluids such as: breeders, shepherds, farmers, hunters come into contact with a patient.
Due to the recent recording of the disease, the National Public Health Organization recommends taking personal protection measures from ticks, priority in high -risk groups and in the wider patient’s exposure area. It is noted, of course, that most ticks are not infected and the risk of getting sick after a tick bite in our country is considered low. However, because the diseases that can transmit ticks, if contaminated, can be severe (such as that disease), precautions should be taken. Specifically, the following are recommended:
1. Avoid areas where there may be ticks (forests, meadows, trees, shrubs, tall greens, piles of leaves, dense vegetation).
2. In case it is necessary to find yourself in areas where there are probably ticks:
- – You always walk in the center of the paths and not in dense vegetation.
- – Wear light color clothes (to easily see ticks) and preferably t -shirts with long sleeves, long pants, high socks and boots/closed shoes. Put the pants through socks and boots. Wear gloves, especially when touching greens/ plants or animals with your hands (put the shirt sleeves in the gloves).
- – Put insect repellent spray or lotion on the bare/open skin and above your clothes (according to the instructions for use).
- – Do not lie down or sit directly on the ground in the countryside.
- – Shower or bath immediately after your return from the countryside.
- – Carefully examine your clothes and skin for ticks, during and after activity in the countryside. After returning home, take off your clothes, socks and shoes out of the house and check them for ticks.
- – If you find a tick on your clothes, remove it carefully (not with bare hands).
- – If you find a tick on your body, this should be removed as quickly and properly as possible, with the right forceps/ tweezers. If you do not know the right way to remove the tick or have the proper forceps, do not take the tick yourself, but go to the doctor immediately, to the nearest health center or hospital.
- – Do not catch the tick with bare hands, but always with gloves. Do not jerk, do not break, compress or punch the tick body.
- – Do not “disturb” the tick when adhered to the skin (eg, do not pour oil, alcohol, petroleum, oil).
3. Apply to your animals preventive treatment against ticks at regular intervals, always in accordance with the veterinary instructions and perform regular stables/ livestock units.
4. Wear gloves and protective clothing when you come into contact with animals or blood or other animal tissues/ secretions, e.g. while slaughtering animals.
5. The fixed directive applies to only drink pasteurized milk and not eat fresh soft cheeses if they have not matured according to the required time. Also, do not consume dairy products if you do not know that the correct process of making them for your protection from various diseases that are transmitted in this way has been observed.
6. To reduce the risk of human to person transmission:
- – Avoid close physical contact with suspected or confirmed incidents of bleeding fever.
- – Wear gloves and protective equipment during patient care.
- – Wash your hands regularly after patient care.
- – For Health Professionals: You are strictly applying basic prevention and infections, in examination, care and care of patients.
More and more detailed information on tick protection measures can be found on the EDY website (https://eody.gov.gr/disease/tsimpoyria-kronees/).
National and Regional Public Health and Veterinary Authorities are in constant communication and cooperation to coordinate prevention and response actions. The Ministry of Health, the ESO and the Ministry of Rural Development and Food are coordinating response actions in cooperation with regional local authorities.
On 27/6/2025 there was a working meeting of the National Authorities of Public Health and Veterinary Medicine, the Regional Authorities of Local Government, Public Health and Veterinary Medicine, and Specialist, to organize and coordinate prevention and response actions. The meeting was attended by: the Ministry of Health, the EDYY, the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, the National Center for Reference to Arbio and Bleeding Fever (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), ELGO-DIMITRA and the Agricultural University of Athens.
Immediate response actions decided include:
- Immediate investigation of patient contacts in the family and hospital environment (ie in health care providers), contact risk assessment and contact monitoring.
- Information actions of health professionals on alertness about suspicious incidents locally and nationwide.
- High -risk groups information actions locally on recommended preventive measures.
- Sample testing of ticks and animals from this area for the presence of the virus.
- Targeted inputs in the area.
- Oroeepidiological study in a population sample of the area.
- Targeted measures of control and prevention of the disease in animals by the veterinary authorities.
We recommend the implementation of meticulous measures, especially from high -risk groups.
EDY contact phones: 1133, 210 5212 385, 210 5212 355
Source :Skai
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