47 Congo virus related deaths reported in Afghanistan this year

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 47 people lost their lives to Congo fever during the ongoing year in Afghanistan, says World Health Organization.

Outbreak of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) (01 Jan to 08 Jul 2023)

• During week 27-2023, a total of 54 new cases of CCHF (30 cases were confirmed positive by PCR) and 9 new deaths were reported. This brings the total number of CCHF cases to 494 from 32 provinces since the beginning of 2023.
• Three additional CCHF associated deaths were added to cumulative deaths which were reported sporadically from two provinces. This brings the total number of CCHF associated deaths to 47 (CFR=9.5%) from the beginning of 2023.
• The CCHF associated deaths were reported from 16 provinces (Kabul (19), Balkh (6), Takhar (5), Parwan (3), Jawzjan (2), Kandahar (2), and 1 from each of the following provinces: Badakhshan, Baghlan, Faryab, Ghazni, Kapisa, Khost, Kunduz, Paktya, Sar-e-pul and Wardak provinces).
• Out of total cases (494), 493 (99.8%) were above 5 years of age and 141 (28.5%) were females.
• Main case load over the past two months is from South (Kandahar and Helmand), North (Balkh) and Central (Kabul) regions.
• Since the beginning of 2023, a total of 156 samples of suspected CCHF cases were tested in CPHL, of which 63 samples were positive (40.4% positivity).
• In addition, 270 samples were tested in Kabul infectious disease hospital (IDH) and five Regional Reference Labs (RRLs), of which 83 were positive (30.7% positivity rate). Cumulatively, a total of 426 samples were tested from suspected CCHF cases in different laboratories, out of which 146 were positive (positivity rate 34.3%).

hz/ma