BAGHDAD, Aug. 7 — The Iraqi Health Ministry announced on Thursday that the country has recorded 313 confirmed cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), including 24 deaths, since the beginning of 2026.
During the latest weekly tally, the country registered 14 confirmed cases, with one death in northern Iraq’s Nineveh province, ministry spokesperson Saif al-Badr said in a statement.
Dhi Qar province in southern Iraq remains the most affected region, recording a cumulative total of 119 confirmed cases and nine fatalities, according to the statement.
Al-Badr said the health ministry is conducting daily epidemiological monitoring across all provinces in coordination with veterinary and regulatory authorities, while expanding awareness campaigns and early detection procedures.
According to the World Health Organization, CCHF, characterized by fever, muscle aches, headache, and bleeding, has a case fatality rate of up to 40 percent.
Since the late 1970s, CCHF has been the most prevalent viral hemorrhagic fever in Iraq. It is transmitted to humans mainly through tick bites or contact with the blood and tissues of infected animals, especially livestock. Iraq recorded its largest outbreak in 2023, with more than 587 confirmed cases and 83 deaths. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
