CCHF Crisis in Afghanistan: Urgent Need for Comprehensive Responses

Afghanistan grapples with a severe public health crisis marked by an alarming surge in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) cases, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a Level 1 travel notice. From January to September 2023, PCR testing confirmed 352 CCHF cases, with a 36.0% positivity rate and a 9.7% mortality rate. Kabul and Balkh provinces witnessed a notable increase in mortality, with broader regional spread intensifying concerns. This paper explores the distinctive attributes of the CCHF outbreak, the healthcare challenges faced by the nation, and the urgent need for comprehensive interventions. The surge results from disruptions in healthcare, socioeconomic challenges, and population movement, necessitating heightened surveillance, education, and public health measures. International collaboration is crucial to alleviate the burdens faced by Afghans, especially vulnerable groups, under Taliban rule. The CDC’s advisory underscores the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the immediate necessity for global action to address this unprecedented challenge.

Neyazi, A., Razaqi, N., Afzali, H., Satapathy, P., Rustagi, S., Padhi, B.K. and Ahamdi, M., 2024. The raising threat of CCHF in Afghanistan: Healthcare dilemmas and the need for comprehensive reponses. New Microbes and New Infections, 56.