Context: The Palghar district administration in Maharashtra has asked authorities to remain alert against a possible spread of the Congo fever.

• The Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) or Congo fever spreads in humans through ticks.
• This is a matter of concern for cattle-breeders, meat-sellers and animal husbandry officials.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF)

• The CCHF is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family.
• The virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 10 to 40 per cent.
• The virus is primarily transmitted to people from ticks and livestock animals.
• Human-to-human transmission can occur resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected persons.
• CCHF is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia, in countries south of the 50th parallel north.
• There is no vaccine available for either people or animals