The association between Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and COVID-19 outbreaks in Iraq: A review

Abstract

The 2019 novel coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and is rapidly making its way across the rest of the world, causing a worldwide epidemic.  The first case of COVID-19 was reported for a traveler entering the city of Najaf and has since spread to all the cities in Iraq. The WHO declared the latest COVID-19 outbreak a worldwide pandemic on March 11, 2020. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is also one of the issues facing public health that emerged after the COVID-19 outbreak. It has been spread widely in Iraq.   Ticks on human or animal tissue or blood are typically the source of infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated CCHFV as a high-priority virus because of its high death rate and lack of viable medical countermeasures.  Despite the differences in transmission dynamics and clinical manifestations, there are overlapping epidemiological factors and potential interactions between these two diseases. These two outbreaks cause a serious health issue in Iraq and a high rate of mortality due to the lack of management and control of their spread; furthermore, the absence of health care in hospitals and the lack of medicines and vaccines. Understanding their association is crucial for effective surveillance, diagnosis, and management strategies to mitigate the burden of both diseases in Iraq. This article discusses the two viruses and their emergence in Iraq.