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British tourists in Spain warned of disease that ‘kills 40 percent of people’

British tourists in Spain warned of disease that ‘kills 40 percent of people’

British tourists have been warned about the outbreak of a disease that is killing 40 PERCENT of people in Spain. An elderly patient reportedly presented to an emergency department in Madrid with a fever and feeling unwell after being bitten by a tick.

After a microbiological examination, it was confirmed that he was infected with the deadly Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) viral disease. Public health officials in Madrid reported a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) on July 21, 2024.




The patient had recently visited Buenasbodas in Toledo province, where he was bitten by a tick, according to warnings. CCHF is a potentially fatal tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever, according to agencies including the World Health Organization and NHS.

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It is found in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern/Southern Europe. People at increased risk are those visiting an endemic region and who are more likely to be bitten by ticks during activities such as hiking, camping in rural areas or visiting farms, being involved in animal slaughter, for example during religious or cultural events, or travelling for veterinary or medical work reasons.

Travelers at increased risk of infection should be aware of the disease and prevent transmission by avoiding tick bites when engaging in outdoor activities and following appropriate infection control procedures when working in a healthcare setting.

You should also “wear gloves and other protective clothing when handling animals or their tissues, particularly during slaughter and extermination”, as there is no vaccine against CCHF available in the UK.

The World Health Organization warns: “CCHF outbreaks pose a threat to public health services because the virus can lead to epidemics, has a high case fatality rate (10-40%), can result in outbreaks in hospitals and health facilities, and is difficult to prevent and treat. CCHF is endemic throughout Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Asia.”