A MAN has died of an eye-bleeding disease in Senegal, officials have said, sparking fears of an outbreak.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, which is similar to Ebola, causes more than two fifths of those who catch it to bleed to death.
GettyCongo fever is a viral disease that’s usually transmitted by ticks and livestock[/caption]
It’s the first time the nasty bug, also called Congo Fever, has been detected in Africa this year.
The Ministry of Health of Senegal reported a confirmed case of Congo Fever on April 21.
The 35-year-old male began to experience flu-like symptoms, including a fever, on April 10.
He was tested for the bug, also know as Congo fever, after he started bleeding uncontrollably – he died on April 22.
Congo fever is a viral disease that’s usually transmitted by ticks and livestock.
Human-to-human transmission is possible, and happens when a person comes into contact with the blood and bodily fluids of people infected with the bug.
It’s usually found in countries where the disease is in an endemic state and the virus is endemic in all of Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and in Asia.
The main carriers of the virus are Hyalomma ticks.
These are not found in the UK and the virus has never been detected here through a tick.
The last reported outbreak of Congo fever occurred in Uganda, between June 2022 and January. The last confirmed case was registered on December 4 2022.
It comes as Africa is battling with a new outbreak of the Marburg virus, which like Congo Fever is a hemorrhagic disease.
At least 35 cases and up to 32 deaths (when including probable fatalities) have now been detected since the outbreak was declared in mid-February, official health data suggests.
What’s the difference between Ebola, Congo fever and Marburg?
Ebola, Congo fever and Marburg are all nasty fatal diseases which have very similar symptoms.
All three belong to a dangerous family of diseases called viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), which cause severe, life-threatening illness.
The hallmark symptoms are bleeding from the nose, mouth, ears and other places.
These symptoms vary both in proportion affected and in severity of symptoms depending on the disease.
Ebola virus disease
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is part of the Filovirus family of viruses and found in Central and West Africa. With EVD:
severe haemorrhagic disease is common
death occurs in up to 60% of cases
bats and non-human primates are suspected to be a source of infection
Transmission can occur when there is contact with body fluids of infected people and animals or with fomites (non-living items that can carry infection, for example furniture, bedding, and medical equipment).
Marburg virus disease
Marburg virus disease is also part of the Filovirus family. It’s found in East, Central and Southern Africa and causes a disease similar to that caused by Ebola virus. Like EVD, bats are suspected to be a source of infection. Transmission can also happen when there’s contact with:
body fluid of infected humans and animals, such as monkeys
fomites that have been contaminated with the virus
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is part of the Bunyavirus family of viruses and is found in:
Africa
the Middle East
Western Asia
Eastern Europe
Southern Europe
Transmission is through a tick bite but it can also be transmitted if there’s contact with the body fluid of infected people, contaminated fomites as well as sheep or cattle after they’ve been slaughtered.
Source: Public Health Scotland
What are the symptoms?
After a person is bitten by an infected tick, it can take one to three days before symptoms appear.
But, the incubation period is five to six days, and can be up to 13, if you come into contact with infected blood or body tissues.
Symptoms appear suddenly and include:
fevermuscle achesdizzinessneck pain and stiffnessbackacheheadachesore eyessensitivity to the light
Infected people may also suffer:
sickness and vomitingdiarrhoeastomach painsore throat
After two to four days, mood swings and confusion will be replaced by sleepiness and depression.
Other signs can include a fast heart rate, enlarged glands and a rash, caused by bleeding into the skin, as well as severe nosebleeds and bleeding gums.
Severely ill patients will suffer rapid kidney failure, sudden liver and heart failure, around five days after falling ill.
CCHF is deadly in around a third of cases, causing death around two weeks after falling ill.
It’s endemic in many countries in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia.
And outbreaks have been reported in Russia, Turkey, Iran, Albania, Pakistan and southern Africa in recent years.