High Risk Behavior and Practice of Livestock and Meat Industry Employees regarding Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Nur County, Northern Iran

Background and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral disease. In Iran human cases of the disease were reported in some regions including Nur County (Mazandaran Province, northern Iran). Therefore, this study investigated high risk behavior of people involved in meat industry and animal husbandry in different districts of Nur County. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in 314 livestock and meat industry workers including shepherds and animal keepers, butchers, slaughters, chefs, veterinary physicians and veterinary staff to monitor their high risk behaviors regarding CCHF from July to December 2012 in Nur County. Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-square and binary regression test at 0.05 significance level. Two hundred eighty nine individuals were interviewed and filled out the questionnaire with an average age of 43.7 ± 14.4 of whom 84.4% were male. Odds ratio (OR) of high risk practices including slaughtering and contact with fresh flesh and blood of livestock of males compared with females was 3.35 (OR = 3.35, CI 95%: 1.73-6.47). High risk individuals living in rural and mountainous areas of Baladeh had significantly longer history of contact with livestock and had more high risk behaviors including slaughtering and contact with fresh flesh and blood of livestock, eating raw liver, and removing ticks from animal's body or squashing them with unprotected hand (P < 0.001). Lack of protective clothing in high risk individuals in highland areas (OR = 9.24, CI 95%: 2.66-32.13) and Baladeh district (OR = 9.80, CI 95%: 2.78-34.53) was significantly higher than the rest of the studied areas. The results clearly showed extensive high risk practice in individuals involved in livestock in Nur County. Such behaviors and lack of management programs may increase the occurrence and epidemics of CCHF in the region especially in West of Mazandaran Province where current CCHF cases are reported.