A MAN died in Spain after being bitten by a tick and contracting a deadly disease with “pandemic potential”.
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.
He was 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, Toledo, about 100 miles southwest of the Spanish capital. .
After confirming that he had the rare Ebola-like virus, he was transferred to an isolation unit at the La Paz University Hospital in Madrid to prevent anyone else from contracting it.
The unidentified OAP’s condition was initially described as stable.
But his condition worsened after he reportedly developed all the symptoms of the terrible disease and died on Saturday.
He becomes the second man to contract the disease in Spain this year.
And the first to die from the disease since May 2020, when it claimed the life of a 69-year-old man.
It turns out that deadly tiger mosquitoes have been found in two Spanish hotspots, prompting an urgent holiday warning for Brits traveling abroad.
CCHF is a tick-borne disease listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of nine pathogens considered most likely to trigger a pandemic.
Initial symptoms include fever, muscle aches, abdominal pain, sore throat and vomiting.
CCHF can also cause mood swings and confusion, as well as drowsiness.
It can also cause bleeding, usually from the nose or broken capillaries in the eyes and skin.
Although transmitted through tick bites, it can spread between humans through bodily fluids, including blood, or between hospital patients if medical equipment is not properly sterilized.
The 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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But scientists fear the disease could be expanding outside its usual territories and moving into 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 meeting of Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee last summer, experts warned that it was “highly likely” that the disease could soon reach Britain.
During the emerging diseases hearing, Professor James Wood, head of veterinary medicine at the University of Cambridge, said CCHF could travel to Britain “through our ticks at some point”.
Speaking to The Sun, Paul Wigley, professor of avian infection and immunity at the University of Liverpool, previously said Professor James was “absolutely correct” in saying the virus could reach the UK.
He said: “There is always potential for virus-infected ticks to enter the country on animals or people who allow CCHF into the UK.
“Reliance on ticks as transmission vectors reduces the likelihood of widespread infection, but this is an extremely serious infection if acquired.”
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 traveling 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 said no further transmission was reported in either case and said the current risk to the public was “very low”.
“It is important to be aware that Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is generally transmitted by tick bites in countries where the disease is endemic, does not spread easily between people and the overall risk to the public is very low,” said the Dr Susan Hopkins, UKHSA Chief Medical Adviser.
However, a report published last year revealed that infected 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 Them Safely
THERE ARE some things you can do to lessen the likelihood of tick bites.
Firstly, try to cover as much skin as possible when walking outdoors and tuck your pants into your socks.
You should also use insect repellent containing DEET on your clothes and skin, and wear light-colored clothing so you can easily spot a tick.
Also follow the paths whenever possible when walking.
But if you are bitten, you must safely remove the tick.
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool. You can buy them at some pharmacies, veterinarians and pet stores.
- Hold the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Slowly pull upwards, being careful not to squeeze or crush the tick. Discard it after removing it.
- Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water.
The chance of getting sick is low. You don’t need to do anything else unless you notice a rash or feel unwell.
If any of these situations happen, see a family doctor so you can receive treatment as quickly as possible.
Source: National Health Service
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
