Epidemiologic status of the patients with Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and its associated risk factors

Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a viral disease transmitted to human by ticks and contact with the blood or animal tissues and hospital contacts are the other ways of its transmission. This research was done to determine the epidemiologic trend of CCHF patients in Qom province. This descriptive-analytical study was performed on all patients diagnosed, treated and followed with the laboratory diagnosis of CCHF from 2001-2011. The data were analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test using SPSS 17 software. 34 suspected cases of CCHF were diagnosed, treated and followed during the studied years. 9 cases (26.5%) were confirmed, 11 cases (32.5%) were probable and the rest 14 cases (41%) only had some symptoms. The mortality rate of the confirmed cases was 22%. The most frequent age group was 15-35 years (70.5%) and most of the cases (91.3%) resided in urban areas. Most of patients were house wives, farmers, students and butchers and 85% of patients mentioned the history of contact with livestock. CCHF is endemic in Qom province, especially in urban areas. Those exposed to livestock particularly butchers and slaughter house workers and farmers are at the risk of this disease; therefore there is the need for health and treatment authorities’ special care in this field.