Current Insights into Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Infection and Public Health Implications

Abstract

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a zoonotic pathogen belonging to the genus Orthonairovirus (family Nairoviridae). Primarily transmitted to humans through bites of infected Hyalomma ticks or contact with blood/tissues of viraemic livestock, it causes a severe viral hemorrhagic fever. The virus consists of spherical, enveloped particles housing a tripartite, negative-sense RNA genome. The three segments, small (S), medium (M), and large (L) encode the nucleoprotein, glycoproteins, and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, respectively. Viral replication occurs in the host cell cytoplasm. Following an incubation period of up to 13 days, disease onset is sudden, with symptoms including high fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting, and photophobia, often progressing to severe hemorrhagic manifestations with a high case-fatality rate. Laboratory diagnosis relies on methods like RT-PCR, antigen-capture ELISA, and virus isolation, which require high-containment facilities due to the extreme biohazard. Treatment is primarily supportive, with careful management of fluids, electrolytes, and coagulopathy. The antiviral drug ribavirin has shown efficacy in vitro but its clinical benefit remains controversial. As no widely approved vaccine exists, prevention focuses on public health measures: using protective clothing and repellents to avoid tick bites, wearing gloves when handling animals, and implementing strict infection control protocols in healthcare settings to prevent human-to-human transmission.