Courtney Nickle
September 4, 2009
1:40 a.m
How bad would it suck if you had a tick that killed your children? Well it’s happening all over Central Asia its called the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever. This particular fever is actually a virus that comes from a tick that can live off wild animals until they are able to attach themselves to a human. It has been spreading in Central Asia and has been known to reach such areas as Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, some parts of China, and Central Asia. The fever originally got its name from when it was discovered in the late 1940s in Crimea. The first case was discovered in Kazakhstan in June by officials who were trying to help a woman that was breast-feeding her child, who actually had the virus and did not know it. After her child, along with 2 surgeons, and the pediatrician who treated them died, it became known as the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever or also known as the CCHF. The outbreak then spread its way to Tajikistan where about 10 people have died this past summer. It has been recently uncovered that on August 24 several people were reported to have died of the virus in Tursunzade with in a 2 day time span. It has been spreading faster as time goes on and now the World Health Organization has come to the rescue to help put this virus down. They are finding it difficult because there is not much known aid since there are not any medical facilities to help the people that get infected. The people of these countries have to stay aware of ticks and make sure that if they find one to watch for the symptoms of this tragic fever and try to stay clear of others so they will not also become infected.
My heart weeps when I hear of a virus like this, something that takes the life of women and children without remorse or regard. I think that the W.H.O. is doing the best they can however they can always do more to find a medicine that will act as a barrier for the people of these lands.
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1 comment:
Oh my gosh! That’s really sad and scary. And just to imagine how quickly it can spread. It’s sad to know that these people have to pretty much live in fear of catching this virus. I wouldn’t even want to go outside because I’d be scared of a tick getting on me! I really hope WHO can find an answer quick.
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