Health officials have reported on a single case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) was confirmed in a young, 10-year-old shepherd (caring for 26 head of cattle) in Fatick District, Kamsaté, Senegal.

Senegal/CIA
Senegal/CIA

The child developed fever, headache, arthralgia, muscle pain and vomiting on 29 June 2017. Upon presentation to a local clinic on 30 June 2017, he was febrile and lethargic with moderate epistaxis (nose bleed).

Serial blood samples (the second one collected on 13 July 2017) were tested by the Institut Pasteur Dakar, which revealed an increase in antibodies (IgM and IgG) against the CCHF virus, confirming a recent infection.

The investigation revealed that the possible source of infection was two cows purchased from a city market less than 3 months prior to the event. A high prevalence of ticks was observed within the implicated herd, of which samples were collected for testing – results pending.

Fifteen additional suspected cases were identified in the community, all of whom tested negative and were excluded.

Previous seroprevalence studies have highlighted that CCHF is focally endemic throughout Senegal and neighboring countries.

Sporadic human infections may be expected in people with regular contact with livestock in endemic areas, but these are preventable through use of repellents, protective clothing and gloves to prevent tick bites, and avoiding contact with blood and body fluids of livestock.

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