The Mauritania Ministry of Health reports a new outbreak of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever (CCHF).
In late August, a 50-year-old female presented at Rosso hospital, in Rosso district, Traza region, with symptoms of fever, headache, myalgia and bloody diarrhea. She is currently hospitalized and stable.
The case was confirmed by PCR by the National Public Health laboratory.
The patient reported exposure to cattle, sheep and goats with no exposure to tick bites.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever 101
CCHF virus is spread by contact with infected ticks or animal (e.g., livestock) blood. CCHF virus can be spread from human to human through contact with infectious blood or bodily fluids.
Initial symptoms of CCHF include headache, high fever, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, and vomiting. As the illness progresses, large areas of severe bruising, severe nosebleeds, and bleeding at injection sites can be seen.
In documented outbreaks of CCHF, fatality rates in hospitalized patients have ranged from 9% to as high as 50%.
In Mauritania, CCHF was first documented in 1983.
In 2026 to date, Africa has reported 17 confirmed CCHF cases and 4 deathsin 3 countries- Mauritania, Senegal and Uganda.