Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Surveillance and General Practitioners in Zahedan

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever is a severe and potentially fatal disease. In recent years، the highest incidence of this disease has occurred in the Sistan and Baluchestan. Surveillance system is the most important strategies for disease control in community. General Practitioners (GPs)، as the first level of contact with patients، have essential roll in the proper implementation of disease surveillance system. Therefore، we evaluated the knowledge about CCHF surveillance system of Zahedan general Practitioners.

We conducted a cross sectional study on all general Practitioners in Zahedan city (April 2012). Data collection tool was a questionnaire that its validity and reliability were confirmed.

A total of 112 physicians participated in our study. Their knowledges about CCHF surveillance system were as follows: weak; 49. 2%، intermediate; 49. 1%، good; 8% and excellent; 0%. No significant difference was found in the GPs knowledge status according to their university and their duration of clinical works. But GPs who were working in the governmental centers had significantly higher knowledge than physicians who working in the private centers. Also، the knowledge of GPs who participated in retraining program about CCHF was significantly more than others.

GPs knowledge about the CCHF surveillance system was undesirable. It seems necessary to integrate the topic of infectious diseases surveillance system in the infectious diseases curriculum and community medicine curriculum. Also، the retraining programs for GPs and specialists on the topic of infectious diseases surveillance system can be an effective step in better control of these diseases.