Deadly virus in Spain: Foreign Office issues warning to UK holidaymakers Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever detected in holiday destination

The Foreign Office has issued a health travel warning to UK holidaymakers after a serious illness has been detected in Spain. The Foreign Office-backed Travel Health Pro website has warned holidaymakers to watch out for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever which is passed on through tick bites.

It comes after the Spanish Castile and León Ministry of Health said a patient is in hospital in a serious but stable condition and is in isolation in Salamanca. It said: “The patient remains admitted, stable in serious condition, at the Salamanca Hospital, where the protocolized epidemiological and care measures have been adopted.”

“The confirmed case is an elderly man who is admitted to the Salamanca Hospital with a clinical picture compatible with CCHF. He has a tick bite and remains stable, although with the clinical severity that this pathology implies, with the isolation measures and protection of health professionals provided for these situations.”

The Epidemiology Section of the Territorial Health Service of the Government of Castilla y León said Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is caused by a virus. It said: “Main transmission mechanism is the bite of the tick of the genus “Hyalomma”, although it can also be transmitted from person to person through contact with blood or fluids of the patient, which can occur especially in healthcare personnel when they are not properly protected.”

The Spanish health authorities issued advice on how to take action to prevent catching the virus. It said: “Regarding the prevention of bites by these insects, health authorities remind us of the importance of wearing appropriate clothing and footwear during outings in the countryside, as well as walking along paths and using repellents for both people and pets. Likewise, it must be insisted that any ticks that may have attached must be removed as soon as possible and appropriately, preferably by health professionals.”

Travel Health Pro added: “The virus exists in nature in domestic and wild animals including horses, donkeys, goats, cattle, sheep, and pigs. The virus is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick, or by direct contact with infected animal/human bodily fluids. 

“Exposure to the virus is also possible from contact with blood from crushing an infected tick. Camping and hiking are risk factors for exposure to tick bites. The incubation period is between 1 and 13 days. Case fatality rate is approximately 30 percent.”

In Spain the virus was first reported in ticks in 2010 - and between 2013 and August 2022 the Spanish Ministry of Health has reported 12 human cases and four deaths. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was identified in the Crimea (as Crimean fever) in 1944 and in the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1956.