Find out if pets can contract the Crimean-Congo Virus and understand the risks and precautions on Meri Sehat.

Can Pets Contract The Crimean Congo Virus?

Dr. Saad Ullah Siddiqui Clinic

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Saad Ullah Siddiqui

Overview

The condition was first identified in 1944 in the Crimea region of the former Soviet Union, and the name Crimean hemorrhagic fever has stuck ever since. It is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/arthritis">joint pain</a>, vomiting, and hemorrhagic signs. 
 
Today, the disease is a global public health concern, with cases being reported all around the world. CCHF is currently endemic in nearly 50 countries throughout Africa, Europe, and Asia<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. Unfortunately, climate and environmental changes along with greater global trade have a direct impact on the spread of the disease. 
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The fever is caused by the Nairovirus of the Bunyaviridae family, a virus that is carried by ticks. These ticks feed on various animals, both wild and domestic. Once bitten, these animals then become the source of transmission of the virus. 
 
So, what makes certain individuals and animal species more susceptible to contracting the <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/congo-virus-all-the-details-you-need">Congo virus</a>?&nbsp; Vets, animal herders, animal merchants, livestock workers, butchers, and people involved in burial practices are the most vulnerable. The virus can be contracted by humans if they come in contact with infected ticks or infected animal blood, organs, and secretions. 
For instance, close contact with the body fluids of an infected person or consumption of fresh meat immediately after slaughtering can be a source of infection. 
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understanding how pets contract the congo virus

Although the disease usually presents with no symptoms in infected animals (&ldquo;silent carriers&rdquo;), the following are known to be sources of infection at different stages of the tick<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>:

<ul>
	<li>Sheep</li>
	<li>Goats</li>
	<li>Birds</li>
	<li>Lagomorphs</li>
	<li>Small rodents</li>
	<li>Cattle 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Care should be taken and universal precautionary measures (e.g., appropriate disinfection procedures and proper protective equipment) should be employed while grooming, moving (especially to endemic areas), and slaughtering animals. There should be appropriate barriers in place when handling or mixing animals with suspect patients to avoid the amplification of the virus. 
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The upcoming Eid-ul-Adha serves as a reminder not just of our religious obligation but also of how the increased human-animal interaction and our reckless attitudes around animals can increase the risk of viral infections.

Individuals, especially pet owners, need to exercise caution and practice protective measures to avoid the risk of transmission: 
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<ul>
	<li>Wear gloves and other protective clothing when around animals, especially when visiting cattle markets</li>
	<li>Ensure their pets avoid contact with body fluids or blood of humans or other livestock that shows symptoms of the infection</li>
	<li>Use disposable gloves while washing the meat</li>
	<li>Eat well-cooked meat</li>
	<li>Be careful when slaughtering animals </li>
	<li>Don&rsquo;t touch ticks with bare hands</li>
	<li>Keep animals in well-ventilated sites and maintain proper sanitation </li>
	<li>Dispose of the animal remains safely</li>
	<li>Fumigate animal sites before, during, and after Eid</li>
	<li>Make sure the vet doesn&rsquo;t use contaminated needles or equipment during routine check-ups 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Conclusion

While pet animals, like hares and hamsters, can contract the virus, research has shown that they are only host to the immature stage of the tick. The majority of the ticks use bigger vertebrates to be the host of the adult stage of the tick lifecycle. Moreover, even in sheep and cattle, the level and duration of the virus are short and once the virus ceases to exist, their bodies develop antibodies for the same<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. 
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