Worrying rise in tick-related deaths: KKKA danger persists in Sivas and Tokat

With the arrival of summer months, cases of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) have returned to the agenda, posing a major threat for citizens living in rural areas in Turkey. It is stated that the risk is increasing particularly in regions engaged in animal husbandry, and A.K., a 60-year-old resident of Poyrazalan village in Artova district of Tokat, lost his life due to complaints developing from a tick attachment. It was learned that the patient first applied to Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital with complaints of high fever and weakness, but was referred to Sivas Cumhuriyet University Hospital as his condition worsened. Diagnosed with CCHF as a result of examinations, the patient could not be saved despite all interventions performed in intensive care units and lost his life. This incident raised the number of lives lost due to Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in the region to 6 in recent months, causing concern for health officials.

According to obtained information, it was stated that A.K., who lost his life, tried to remove the tick attached to his body with his own means, and this unconscious intervention could cause the virus to spread through the body faster and the infection to follow a dangerous course. Experts making a statement on the subject emphasized that citizens should never panic in case of a tick attachment and should definitely not remove the tick themselves by pulling, crushing, or burning it. Officials from the Ministry of Health repeatedly reminded that if an attempt is made to tear the tick off the skin surface, the virus can easily pass from the carrier's salivary glands to the wound, increasing the risk of death from the disease. Experts stated that the only correct action to take when encountering a tick is to apply to the nearest health institution and get professional support, and that emergency teams can safely remove the tick with the necessary equipment.

With the latest death case seen in Sivas and surrounding provinces, the number of tick-related deaths in the region has reached 6, and this situation carries a serious warning in terms of public health. Health teams warn citizens working in the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors to wear long-sleeved clothes covering their bodies while in open areas and to definitely check their bodies for ticks at the end of the day. It is stated that symptoms of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever include high fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, and in some cases bleeding, and if these complaints arise, a health institution should be applied to without delay. It is known that diagnosing the disease at an early stage significantly increases treatment success and the patient's chances of survival.

Despite being in May and June when the disease risk is highest, it is reported that cases may continue throughout the summer due to seasonal conditions and citizens need to be sensitive on this issue. People living in at-risk regions, especially in Tokat, Sivas, Kastamonu, and Çorum, are asked to take extra precautions when entering areas with dense grassy and short vegetation. Those living in regions where tick cases are frequently seen are advised to be careful during the care and grazing of animals, to use gloves while in direct contact with tick-infested animals, and to show maximum care for cleanliness. Authorities stated once again that in this period when activities increase with the warming weather, CCHF is a preventable disease with individual measures and increasing social awareness is of vital importance.