ICMR have assured that CCHF outbreaks can easily be controlled by proper hygiene and infection control measures in the Hospital(s) where patients are admitted. Similar precautions should be taken in the community specially while slaughtering the animals from whose tissues the infection can spread to humans. “After proper control measure, the outbreaks can be successfully handled locally. In this instance awareness among the doctors and also prompt diagnosis at NIV is an evidence of the competence of our system and there should be no reason for any panic reaction”.

The CCHF virus is known to be transmitted among animals through ticks. It does not produce disease in animals but kills from 20 to 40% of humans beings who get the disease.

ICMR adds that typically, after a one to three day incubation period following a tick bite (5-6 days after exposure to infected blood or tissues), flu-like symptoms appear, which may resolve after one week. In up to 75% of cases, however, signs of hemorrhage appear within 3-5 days of the onset of illness. Patients usually begin to recover after 9-10 days from symptom onset, but there could be mortality in some cases

A team of specialists from National Institute of Communicable Diseases has already been deputed for Ahemadabad.

The CCHF virus has earlier been reported from Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Pakistan. There is serological evidence of CCHF infection being present in India in animals which however do not get the disease.