The weather has warmed up: the first tick case of the year has been seen!

With the warming of the weather in the Eastern Black Sea Region, tick cases have begun to appear in Gümüşhane, and the first Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) case of the year has been taken under treatment at the Karadeniz Technical University (KTÜ) Faculty of Medicine Farabi Hospital.

Speaking on the subject, Prof. Dr. Gürdal Yılmaz, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Karadeniz Technical University (KTÜ) Faculty of Medicine, drew attention to the fact that Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) cases have begun to increase with the warming of the weather and issued warnings.

Noting that one person has been taken under treatment at the hospital due to Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Yılmaz said, “Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) cases, which have been a nuisance for us since 2002, have started to bite people and cause illness as the weather warms up and people go out into nature. We have new cases starting; we currently have one patient undergoing treatment. We had a density due to the flu, and CCHF cases are being consulted to us, mostly patients from Gümüşhane. We ask our colleagues at the hospital in Gümüşhane to follow them as much as they can and to send them to us if the situation becomes problematic. We admitted one of our patients whose platelet count dropped significantly in this way; there are cases, and they have started to increase across Turkey.”

''JUNE - JULY ARE THE MONTHS WHEN CASES ARE MOST INTENSE''

Noting that tick cases are particularly intense in June and July, Yılmaz said, “June-July are the months when cases are most intense. In terms of our region, the numbers in hospitals reach 200-300. Last year, one of our patients passed away due to CCHF. Depending on the type and number of microbes taken, the body's response to it, and the status of supportive care, reactions vary, and deaths can occur.”

''LET'S CHECK OUR BODIES''

Noting that ticks seen in coastal areas do not pose a danger in terms of CCHF, Yılmaz said, “Especially during the hazelnut harvest, people bitten by ticks apply to us. CCHF is not an expected situation with ticks in the coastal region. Those ticks do not carry it. Our Kelkit Valley region is important. In the areas where the Kelkit Valley and Çoruh pass, there are such ticks, not on the high hills but in the lower areas. The color of the ticks in the Black Sea is blackish; they do not carry it. The ticks in the Gümüşhane and Kelkit side have a brownish color; those are the dangerous ticks. As for protection, when we go to grassy areas, let's tuck our pant legs into our socks. When we come home, let's check our entire body for ticks.”