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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Urgent warning to Brit travellers after deadly virus that kills 40% of victims found in Spanish hotspot
HEALTH authorities have issued a warning to British travellers after a case of a deadly virus was spotted in the popular tourist region of Salamanca. A 70-year-old man was hospitalised with 2 A case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was recently spotted in Salamanca, Spain Credit: Alamy 2 The disease is spread by tick bites Credit: Getty The Foreign Office-run website The CCHF virus tends to be spread by tick bites and can cause serious viral illness, as well as severe bleeding and multiple organ failure. In severe outbreaks, it can be fatal to up to 40 per cent of its victims, according to the Spanish health authorities said the 70-year-old man had contracted the dangerous infection from a tick bite. Read more on disease Testing confirmed he had CCHF after he was admitted to Salamanca Hospital with telltale symptoms. "He remains stable, although with the clinical severity that this pathology implies," Ministry for Health officials wrote. The patient is being isolated and protection measures are in place for healthcare professionals caring for him, they added. Medics also traced people the man had been in contact with and were keeping them under observation. Most read in Health "CCHF is caused by a virus primarily transmitted through the bite of a Hyalomma tick," Spanish health authorities said. "However, it can also be transmitted from person to person through contact with the patient's blood or body fluids, which can occur particularly among healthcare workers when they are not properly protected." Malaria- how cutting-edge science could finally beat the world's deadliest disease For British travellers, the risk of contracting CCHF while holidaying in Spain remains "low", Travel Health Pro noted. "Imported cases are very rare and are more commonly reported in people who have worked in endemic rural areas in high-risk jobs, such as farmers, veterinarians, slaughterhouse workers, livestock owners and other people that work with animals." But it urged people travelling to CCHF-affected areas to take the necessary precautions to avoid getting bitten by ticks. This includes steering clear of long grass and greenery where ticks may be hiding, as well covering skin with clothing, tucking trousers into socks, and using insect repellent and insecticide. Everything you need to know about Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral disease. It triggers symptoms including high fever, muscle pain, dizziness, abnormal sensitivity to light, abdominal pain and vomiting. Later on, sharp mood swings may occur, and the patient may become confused and aggressive. CCHF virus is widespread and the virus has been found among ticks in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe and South Western Europe. In Europe cases of human infections have been reported from Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. In June 2008, the first case was diagnosed in Greece and Spain reported the first locally acquired case in August 2016. Two cases were previously confirmed in the UK — one in 2012 and one in 2014 — which were imported from Afghanistan and Bulgaria. A third case was detected in March 2022 in a woman who had recently travelled to central Asia. Source: Travellers were also urged to check their body over for ticks and carefully remove any critters from their skin without squashing them. "UK travellers experiencing symptoms abroad should seek local medical advice as soon as possible," Travel Health Pro stated. In some cases, CCHF infections may cause no symptoms at all. For others, it can take up to two weeks for symptoms to appear. According to the UK Health Security Agency, initial symptoms may appear abruptly and can include: Fever and muscle aches Dizziness Neck pain and stiffness Backache Headache Sore eyes and sensitivity to light Confusion Nausea and vomiting Diarrhoea What's known as the haemorrhagic phase tends to begin three to five days after symptoms first appear. It usually starts with a rash and progresses to: Bruising Bleeding from the gums and nose Bleeding into the brain and/or the abdomen Low blood pressure Kidney failure Neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms The disease be fatal as a result of blood loss and multi-organ failure. Hyalomma ticks - which carry the virus from biting infected animals - aren't established in the UK but are present in countries across Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East, and western and south-central Asia. CCHF cases have been reported in over 30 countries across these regions. It's estimated that 10-15,000 human infections occur globally each year, resulting in approximately 500 deaths - though this is likely an underestimate as many cases may go unrecognised.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Brits heading to Spain on alert as '40 per cent deadly' virus found
The Foreign Office-run website Travel Health Pro reported a case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been discovered in Spain's most populous region Brits planning to jet off to Spain are warned as a potentially fatal disease causing multi-organ failure has been detected in the tourist haven of Salamanca. The Foreign Office-run website Travel Health Pro flagged up a case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), sparking fears for holidaymakers' health. The disease can manifest with no symptoms, or progressively worse conditions such as fever, headaches, diarrhoea and vomiting, eye soreness, confusion, bleeding, bruising, and ultimately, multi-organ failure and shock. Alarmingly, for those unlucky enough to catch the illness, the fatality rate can soar to a stunning 40%, as observed by Travel Health Pro. In a critical update, Travel Health Pro announced: "On 28 May 2025, local health officials have reported a confirmed case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Salamanca. The case was exposed via a tick bite." Earlier this year, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) classified CCHF as a significant hazard to public wellness. Globally, an estimated 10-15,000 human cases occur each year, with around 500 fatalities, and experts believe these figures are underreported, as numerous instances likely remain unidentified. This disease is predominantly present in Africa, southern regions of Europe, the Middle East, and certain parts of Asia. The first reported case was in Spain in 2013, followed by Portugal in 2024. According to Travel Health Pro, "In fatal cases, death occurs from haemorrhage, multi-organ failure and shock. It is possible that many people who are infected do not have symptoms, making it difficult to know the true number of cases." The UK Health Security Agency has created a "priority pathogen" list designed to guide scientists and researchers in focusing their efforts and accelerate vaccine development when necessary. This list encompasses 24 pathogen families and is the first to address global health risks alongside those specific to the UK populace. Chief Scientific Officer for UKHSA, Dr Isabel Oliver, stated: "We live at the time of increasing challenges and increasing risks from infectious diseases. "But at the same time we have got, thanks to scientific advancement, better tools than we've ever had to protect health against these threats. Having said that there are areas where we still need more or better diagnostics, vaccines and medicines and therapeutics, and this tool has been designed to help inform the work of government research funders, but also our partners in industry and academia who are critical to the development of these tools that we so desperately need." Experts have developed a new tool to assess the pandemic and epidemic potential of viral families, considering factors like disease severity, transmission routes, and historical pandemics. Each viral group has been assigned a risk level of high, medium, or low by UKHSA scientists, with additional details on climate change sensitivity, vaccine availability, and human-to-human transmission likelihood included in the assessment. The list isn't an indicator of the most probable cause for the next pandemic but highlights areas needing more research and investment, as explained by Dr Oliver: "We haven't ranked because the situation is constantly evolving, as you can imagine, and one of the things that we do in the UKHSA is undertake surveillance and monitor threats." Dr Oliver also expressed concern over the shifting distribution of disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks due to climate and environmental changes. She elaborated on the risks posed by vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, which are being closely monitored by the UKHSA for their potential impact on both human and animal health. "The UKHSA maintains surveillance of mosquitoes and ticks, and we work with partners in local government and animal health and other sectors to really understand any changes that might potentially affect our health in the UK." The UKHSA has released a "priority pathogen" list. VIRUSES Adenoviruses Arenaviruses (Lassa fever) Calciviruses (norovirus) Coronaviruses (Covid-19) Filoviruses (Ebola, Marburg, Sudan virus) Flaviviruses (Dengue, zika, hepatitis C) Hantaviruses Nairoviruses (Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever) Orthomyxoviruses (flu) Paramyxoviruses (Nipah virus) Peribunyaviruses (Oropouche fever) Phenuviruses (Rift Valley fever) Picornaviruses (Polio) Pneumoviruses (human metapneumovirus/hMPV) Poxviruses (mpox) Togaviruses (Chikungunya) BACTERIA Bacillaceae (anthrax) Coxiellaceae (Q fever) Enterobacteria (plague) Francisellacae (tularaemia) Moraxellaceae (pneumonia and UTIs) Neisseriaceae (gonorrhoea) Staphylococcaceae (cellulitis, pneumonia) Streptococcaceae (meningitis, scarlet fever, septicaemia)
