Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe viral disease that can be transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks or contact with the blood and tissue of infected animals. The disease is characterized by fever, muscle aches, headache and bleeding and has a high fatality rate, ranging from 10%–40%.
In Iraq, CCHF is a significant public health concern. Cases have been reported sporadically since 1979 and there has been a steady increase in recent years due to factors that include climate change, changes in agricultural practices and increased human-animal interactions.
Between 2020 and 2021, Iraq experienced its largest CCHF outbreak to date with over 300 confirmed cases by early 2022. The outbreak was exacerbated by unregulated livestock movement, intensified farming practices and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care resources.
Recognizing the urgent need for effective preventive measures in the absence of a licensed vaccine or targeted antiviral therapy for CCHF, the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Iraq, in collaboration with the ministries of health and agriculture and the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, implemented a comprehensive risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) campaign.
The campaign aimed to reduce CCHF transmission by empowering high-risk populations with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves, and by strengthening the capacity of public health authorities to implement evidence-based RCCE strategies tailored to vulnerable groups.
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