Travel warning to Brits after cases of deadly virus that kills 40% of victims found in Spanish holiday hotspot

A TRAVEL warning has been issued to Brits after cases of a deadly virus that kills 40 per cent of its victims were spotted in Spain. Two people in Salamanca have been diagnosed with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) since June. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is spread by tick bites and infected bodily fluids Credit: Getty Two cases have been detected in Salamanca this year Credit: Getty The virus triggering the illness is most often spread by tick bites, and can cause serious symptoms, including severe bleeding and multiple organ failure. But it can also be transmitted between people through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! In severe outbreaks, it can be fatal to up to 40 per cent of its victims, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). It’s estimated that up to 15,000 people contract CCHF each year across the world, resulting in approximately 500 deaths. However, this is likely to be an underestimate as many cases can go unrecognised. The disease is more common in countries across Africa, the Middle East, and western and south-central Asia, where ticks carrying the virus are endemic. But it is becoming an emerging threat in Europe, according to the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC). Disease carrying ticks are now rife in southern Europe, according to the Foreign Office-run website Travel Health Pro. Most read in Health Locally acquired cases have been reported in several European countries in the last few years, meaning the illness has been caught in Europe, not imported from elsewhere. The first patient in Salamanca developed symptoms on June 11 and the second on July 8. No other cases of the deadly illness have been reported to the ECDC so far this year. Last summer, a 70-year-old man in Salamanca was hospitalised with CCHF after a tick bite. Another two cases were confirmed in Spain in 2024 – one in Salamanca and one in Buenasbodas. CCHF cases have been reported in over 30 countries over the years, according to Travel Health Pro. It said “the number and geographical range of affected countries is expanding”. Locally acquired cases were first detected in Spain in 2013 and in Portugal in 2024. For travellers, the risk of catching CCHF is very low, as imported cases are rare. The two cases in Salamanca were “not unexpected”, according to the ECDC, as Hyalomma ticks – one of the main carriers of CCHF – are very common in the region. What are the symptoms of CCHF? According to the UK Health Security Agency, initial symptoms may appear abruptly and can include: Fever and muscle aches Dizziness Neck pain and stiffness Backache Headache Sore eyes and sensitivity to light Confusion Nausea and vomiting Diarrhoea What’s known as the haemorrhagic phase tends to begin three to five days after symptoms first appear. It usually starts with a rash and progresses to: Bruising Bleeding from the gums and nose Bleeding into the brain and/or the abdomen Low blood pressure Kidney failure Neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms The disease can be fatal as a result of blood loss and multi-organ failure. If a tick embeds in the skin it’s vital to remove it with a tick removal tool, so the legs don’t get stuck inside Credit: Alamy Aside from tick bites, accidentally crushing infected ticks can also spread the disease – especially if the virus then enters the body through a cut or contact with the eyes, nose or mouth. In some cases, CCHF infections may cause no symptoms at all. For others, it can take up to two weeks for symptoms to appear. If you’re travelling to areas affected by CCHF, you should do your best to avoid tick bites. This includes steering clear of long grass and greenery where ticks may be hiding, as well covering skin with light-coloured clothing (making it easier to spot ticks), tucking trousers into socks, and using insect repellent on exposed skin. Check your body for ticks, remove them carefully and promptly with a tick removal tool if you spot them on your skin; avoid squashing a tick between your fingers You should also avoid direct contact with the blood, tissues or body fluids of infected animals and stay away from people with symptoms of CCHF. If you develop symptoms of the illness while you’re abroad, you should seek help as soon as possible. Comment now