Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever claims one life – Outbreak of fever confirmed
The Ministry of Health this week confirmed that one person died last week on 18 May, in Windhoek due to Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).
According to the ministry in a statement blood samples taken from the deceased indicated that before he had tested positive for CCHF.
“From 18 May a total of 27 contacts were identified of whom 24 are health workers, one co-worker of the deceased, and two household contacts,” the statement added.
According to the protocols of the MoHSS and the World Health Organisation standards, one laboratory-confirmed case of CCHF in a jurisdiction is considered an outbreak and requires that public health measures be instituted to prevent further transmission.
CCHF is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by a nairovirus and is transmitted to humans through the bites or crushing of ticks by contact with body fluids of a patient infected with the CCHF virus in its blood.
According to the ministry, in documented outbreaks, CCHF fatality rates in hospitalized patients have ranged from 9 % to as high as 50 %.
Namibia experienced CCHF outbreaks from 2016 to 2019 with six confirmed cases and three deaths.
