Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in the World. Epidemiological and Epizootiological Situation in the Russian Federation in 2023 and Forecast for 2024

Abstract

The review features the situation on Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in the world and the analysis of the epidemiological and epizootiological situation in the Russian Federation in 2023. The number of CCHF cases (26) in Russia was 2.3 times less than in 2022, and 71.6 % lower than the long-term average (in 2013–2022 – an average of 88.8 cases per year, mortality (8 %) is 2.4 times higher than the long-term average (3.3 %). The epidemically significant indicator of the abundance of the main vector of the CCHF virus, ticks Hyalomma marginatum, was 5 times higher than the threshold value (abundance index for cattle – 15.5) at long-term observation points in April. For the first time, one case of CCHF disease was registered in a new epidemically active territory – in the Botlikh and Novolaksky districts of the Republic of Dagestan. For the first time in the Zaporozhye Region, RNA of the CCHF virus was detected in ticks H. marginatum and Rhipicephalus rossicus. Markers of CCHF virus were found in 0.67–18.27 % of samples, CCHF virus variants of the genetic line Europe 1 were circulating on the territory of Russia in 2023. According to the forecast of the epidemic situation for 2024, CCHF morbidity is likely to increase in the south of the European part of Russia. The recommendations for undertaking preventive measures have been provided.

Keywords

• crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever
• epidemiological situation
• epizootiological monitoring
• morbidity
• forecast