BAGHDAD, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's health ministry announced on Monday that the country has recorded a total of 145 Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) cases, including nine deaths, since the beginning of 2026.
Ministry spokesperson Saif al-Badr said in a statement that Dhi Qar province in southern Iraq recorded the highest infection number, documenting 74 confirmed cases and six fatalities.
According to the statement, other cases were distributed across several provinces, including 18 in al-Muthanna, nine in Maysan, and eight with one death in Diyala.
Al-Badr noted that the ministry's epidemiological surveillance teams are monitoring the health situation daily in coordination with relevant veterinary and regulatory authorities to enhance early detection and treatment.
CCHF, characterized by fever, muscle aches, headache, and bleeding, has a high fatality rate ranging from 10 percent to 40 percent.
Since the late 1970s, CCHF has been the most common viral hemorrhagic fever in Iraq. It is transmitted to humans mainly through tick bites or contact with the blood and tissues of infected animals, especially livestock.
Iraq has experienced recurring outbreaks of CCHF since then. The largest outbreak occurred in 2023, when over 587 cases and 83 deaths were reported, predominantly affecting southern provinces.
