Crimean–Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus

Publisher Summary Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a member of the Nairovirus genus of the Bunyaviridae family. CCHFV is a single-stranded RNA virus, with a genome consisting of three negative-stranded segments designated S (small), M (medium), and L (large), which encode the nucleocapsid (N) protein, two envelope glycoproteins (G1 and G2), and the polymerase, respectively. The molecular weights of the nucleocapsid protein, the G1 and G2 glycoproteins, and the polymerase proteins, are 48–54 kD, 72–84 kD, 30–40 kD, and 180–200kD respectively. The greatest risk of transmission of CCHF to humans occurs in areas where ticks of the genus Hyalomma are the predominant species. CCHFV is transmitted to humans through: the bite of a tick; contact with the tissues or blood of a recently slaughtered infected animal in the viremic phase of infection (butchers are particularly at risk), and contact with the blood of viremic-phase patients, most frequently in a hospital setting. Human epidemics of CCHF rarely affect more than a few individuals.