8 people diagnosed with CCHF in Sivas, 1 person has died

With rising temperatures across Turkey, tick cases—which are particularly concentrated in provinces such as Sivas, Tokat, Amasya, Erzincan, Gümüşhane, Giresun, and Yozgat—bring with them the risk of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).

Prof. Dr. Nazif Elaldı, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology at Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, stated that the Hyalomma marginatum species of tick is common in the region and transmits the CCHF virus. Prof. Dr. Elaldı, noting that in addition to CCHF, ticks can transmit more than 200 diseases to humans, including Lyme disease, Rickettsial infections, Anaplasmosis, Q fever, and Ehrlichiosis, stated that 8 adult patients have been diagnosed with CCHF at Sivas Application and Research Hospital since April of this year. One of the patients receiving treatment has passed away.

Making a statement regarding tick cases, Prof. Dr. Nazif Elaldı said, "While the best solution to protect against ticks is to avoid going to rural areas where they are found, this is not always possible. If one is to go, light-colored clothing should be worn before leaving so that ticks can be easily noticed and seen. When in nature, clothing surfaces should be checked frequently for ticks, and pant legs should be tucked into socks to prevent ticks from reaching bare skin. Currently, there is no chemical substance that effectively prevents ticks from attaching to humans. The most effective method of protection against ticks is to check the body for ticks in front of a mirror at home after returning from high-risk areas. In particular, the groin and armpits, which ticks prefer for attachment, should be checked. If a tick has attached, it should be removed without delay, using appropriate material (such as a cloth, plastic bag, or gloves) by grasping it as close to the point of attachment as possible, provided that it is not touched with bare hands. Since the removed tick will be hungry, it should not be released back into nature to prevent it from attaching to another living creature," he said.

THE CRITICAL ROLE OF EARLY DIAGNOSIS

Stating that early diagnosis and treatment save lives, Prof. Dr. Elaldı said, "CCHF manifests itself 1 to 3 days after a tick bite with weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, headache, muscle-joint pain, fever, chills, and shivering. In some patients, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in 10-15 percent of cases, bleeding from the nose, inside the mouth, the gastrointestinal system, or internal organs can also be seen. An accurate and rapid diagnosis not only saves the patient's life but also prevents the disease from spreading to others. Sivas Training and Research Hospital makes a difference in this regard with its expert staff and advanced diagnostic methods. In Turkey, diagnosis is made according to the case definition of the Ministry of Health's CCHF Scientific Committee and through virological-serological tests. Our hospital is one of the leading centers where these tests are performed," he said.