A MAN has died in Spain after being bitten by a tick and contracting a deadly disease that’s similar to Ebola.
The 74-year-old lost his life in a hospital near Madrid after being diagnosed with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) – which can make sufferers’ eyes bleed.
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He had been rushed to the Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital in Mostoles on July 19 after being bitten by a tick near his weekend home in Buenasbodas in Toledo, around 100 miles southwest of the Spanish capital.
After confirming he had the rare virus, which has a 40 per cent mortality rate, he was transferred to an isolation unit at Madrid’s La Paz University Hospital to stop anyone else from catching it.
The unnamed OAP’s condition was initially described as stable.
But his condition deteriorated after he reportedly developed all the symptoms of the terrifying disease and he died on Saturday.
He is the second man to contract the bug in Spain this year and the first to die of the disease since May 2020 – when it claimed the life of a 69-year-old man.
It comes as deadly tiger mosquitoes have been found in two Spanish hotspots sparking an urgent holiday warning for Brits heading abroad.
CCHF is a tick-borne disease is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being one of nine pathogens deemed most likely to trigger a pandemic.
Initial symptoms include a fever, muscle aches, abdominal pain, a sore throat and vomiting.
CCHF can also cause mood swings and confusion, as well as sleepiness.
It can also trigger bleeds, usually from the nose or broken capillaries on the eyes and skin.
Although transmitted through tick bites, it can spread between humans through bodily fluids including blood or among hospital patients if medical equipment is not properly sterilised.
Groups that are at high risk of infection are farmers and those who work in slaughterhouses.
The virus is endemic in places with warmer climates such as Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia.
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Deadly haemorrhagic fever in the UK
THE last time the UK saw a case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was in 2022.
A woman received specialist treatment for the disease at the Royal Free Hospital in London after travelling to central Asia.
The latest case was only the third recorded in England, with previous infections detected in 2012 and 2014.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said no onward transmission was reported in either instance and said the current risk to the public is “very low”.
“It’s important to be aware that Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is usually spread by tick bites in countries where the disease is endemic, it does not spread easily between people and the overall risk to the public is very low,” said Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA.
But scientists fear the disease could be expanding out of its usual territories and moving towards Britain and France due to global warming.
There have been around 15 cases of CCHF infection in Spain since it was first detected in 2016.
During a Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee meeting last summer, experts warned it is “highly likely” the disease could soon reach Britain.
During the hearing on emerging diseases, Professor James Wood, head of veterinary medicine at Cambridge University, said CCHF may travel to Britain “through our ticks at some point”.
Speaking to The Sun, Paul Wigley, Professor of Avian Infection and Immunity, University of Liverpool, previously said Professor James was “absolutely correct” in saying the bug could reach the UK.
He said: “There is always potential for virally-infected ticks to enter the country on animals or people allowing CCHF to enter the UK.
“The reliance of ticks as vectors for transmission does reduce the likelihood of widespread infection, but this is an extremely serious infection if acquired.”
Meanwhile, a report published last year revealed disease-ridden mosquitoes – carrying several diseases including Rift Valley fever – were found in 26 European countries.
Other diseases on the watch list include dengue fever, chikungunya, West Nile disease, yellow fever and zika.
How to avoid tick bites and remove a tick safely
THERE are a few things you can do to lessen your likelihood of tick bites.
Firstly, try to cover as much of your skin as possible while walking outdoors and tuck your trousers into your socks.
You should also be using insect repellent containing DEET on your clothes and skin, and wearing light coloured clothing so you can spot a tick easily.
Also stick to paths where possible when you’re out walking.
But if you are bitten, you must remove a tick safely.
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, vets and pet shops.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick. Dispose of it when you have removed it.
- Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water.
The chance of getting ill is low. You do not need to do anything else unless you notice a rash or become unwell.
If either of these happen, make sure to see a GP so you can get treatment as soon a possible.
Source: NHS
