Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: Efforts, recommendations and challenges at hand

Leah Greene; Olivier Uwishema; Aderinto Nicholas; Arushi Kapoor; Christin Berjaoui; Emmanuel Adamolekun; Carlo Khoury; Fatima Elbasri Abuelgasim Mohammed; Helen Onyeaka

doi:10.1016/j.afjem.2022.02.004

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: Efforts, recommendations and challenges at hand

Afr J Emerg Med. 2022 Jun;12(2):117-120. doi: 10.1016/j.afjem.2022.02.004. Epub 2022 Feb 21.

Authors

Leah Greene¹, Olivier Uwishema^{2

3

4}, Aderinto Nicholas^{2

5}, Arushi Kapoor⁶, Christin Berjaoui^{2

7}, Emmanuel Adamolekun^{2

8

9}, Carlo Khoury^{2

10}, Fatima Elbasri Abuelgasim Mohammed^{2

11}, Helen Onyeaka¹²

Affiliations

¹ Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, USA.
² Research and Education, Oli Health Magazine Organization, Kigali, Rwanda.
³ Clinton Global Initiative University, New York, USA.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
⁵ Department of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
⁶ Department of Biotechnology, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Delhi, India.
⁷ Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon.
⁸ Olikoye Ransom Kuti Memorial Hospital, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
⁹ Helix Biogen Research Institute, Ogbomosho, Nigeria.
¹⁰ Faculty of Medicine, University of Saint Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon.
¹¹ Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
¹² School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions have suffered globally and as a result, attention and resources for other diseases, such as Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), has declined. Despite a significantly lower incidence rate compared to COVID-19, CCHF has a considerably higher mortality rate at approximately 30%. Both diseases share symptoms such as headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, sore throat, however they have different modes of transmission, mortality rates, and incubation periods. Public health professionals have faced several challenges when attempting to prevent and control the spread of both diseases and despite their differences, many of the prevention methods remain the same. These include increasing public awareness regarding avoiding contact with infected individuals and animals, training healthcare professionals in emergency and preparedness for disease outbreaks and increasing the investment in medical supplies and treatment to control the spread of both diseases.

Keywords: COVID-19; Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF); SARS-CoV-2.