Bi-annual surge of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF): a five-year experience.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the peak time of outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and to highlight the disease-specific areas in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.

DESIGN

A hospital-based case-series study.

PLACE AND DURATION: A five-year study was conducted by the Department of Pathology in collaboration with the Department of Medicine, Sandeman Provincial Teaching Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, from 1 March 1997 to 28 February 2002.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A total of 135 cases were included in the study based on a high index of suspicion of CCHF. The mean age was 33.5+/-18.7 years. Two sets of blood samples were drawn on admission; one set was sent for urgent routine investigations while the other was sent to CDC, Atlanta, USA, for confirmation.

RESULTS

The study showed that CCHF was more common between March and May and again, between August and October, depicting a bi-annual surge. Out of 135 suspected cases, 83 (61.4%) were confirmed to have CCHF and were given platelet concentrate and ribavirin. It ws observed that CCHF was more common in specific areas of the province.

CONCLUSIONS

It is essential to raise the level of knowledge regarding CCHF, especially in disease-specific areas, focussing on the peak outbreak periods.