Health officials in Spain are said to be seriously monitoring two deadly diseases with rising cases in the country.
Both Lyme disease and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever have been taking hold in Spain, with officials now enacting parts of their National Plan for Surveillance and Control of Vector-borne Diseases as a result.
Lucía García San Miguel, head of the Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), said of Lyme disease: “It is not an infection that is cured and that’s it, but over the months, manifestations can continue to appear and it can cause serious and disabling sequelae for life, but it is extremely difficult to diagnose because there are no adequate methods.”
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CCHF is a member of the Nairovirus genus within the Bunyaviridae family. It is endemic in many countries in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Asia. It has a high fatality rate, ranging from 10% to 40%, making early diagnosis and supportive care crucial for improving patient outcomes.
There have been 15 cases in Spain in the last eight years. García San Miguel said: “We believe it will increase.”
But what exactly are these diseases, and why was one of them recently labelled as a “serious threat” to Britain?
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
The disease is caused by nairovirus, a condition spread by ticks, and has a fatality rate of between 10% and 40%. The killer disease can also be caught by having contact with infected blood or tissue from cattle, such as sheep, cows or goats, immediately after slaughter.
It is usually found in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and in Asia, but several cases have already been reported in Spain with experts fearing it is heading to our shores. Recently, insiders told Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee revealed it was “highly likely” there could soon be cases in the UK – and labelled it a “major threat”.
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James Wood, head of veterinary medicine at Cambridge University, said CCHF could find its way to the UK “through our ticks, at some point”.
The World Health Organisation has listed CCHF among its nine “priority diseases”. Symptoms include fever, muscle and neck ache, dizziness, backache, headache, sore eyes and sensitivity to light.
As the sickness from the disease progresses, large areas of the body experience severe bruising. On top of this, patients can suffer from severe nosebleeds, and uncontrolled bleeding at injection sites can be seen, beginning on about the fourth day of illness and lasting for about two weeks.
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The death rate from CCHF is around 30% within two weeks of infection, with the WHO reporting that the majority of cases occur in people involved in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and vets.
There is currently no vaccine for either animals or humans.
Lyme disease
Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection which is spread to humans by some species of ticks. Many who develop early symptoms will experience a circular red skin rash around the bite. This can appear up to three months after being bitten by a tick, according to the NHS. And most rashes, which are often described as a bull’s eye due to its appearance, will appear within the first four weeks of being bitten.
However, not everyone with Lyme disease will get the rash. In some cases there may be flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, headaches, muscle and joint pain and tiredness. Most cases of Lyme disease, if it is detected early, can be treated with a course of antibiotics.
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Some people who have severe symptoms may be referred to a specialist in hospital. According to the NHS: “People with symptoms of Lyme disease that last a long time after treatment may be referred to a specialist in hospital for advice and more blood tests.”
According to Health.com, most people who take antibiotics will improve over time. However, in a small percentage of cases people continue to experience symptoms for more than six months after antibiotics.
The death rate is around 1%.
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