IPROC iproc Iproceedings 2369-6893 JMIR Publications Toronto, Canada v8i1e36495 10.2196/36495 Abstract Abstract Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in the North Region of Oman in August 2019: Case Series Study Khader Yousef Alsaadi Khalid Saif BSc, MD, DEP 1
Directorate of Surveillance and Disease Control North Batinah Region Ministry of Health Liwa Sohar Oman 968 99224877 ka39saadi@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1514-2696 Abd-Ellatif Eman MScPH 2 Alhashmi Fatima MScPH 1 Almoqbali Ali MScPH 1 Vaidya Vidyanand MScPH 1 Directorate of Surveillance and Disease Control North Batinah Region Ministry of Health Sohar Oman Department of Public Health and Community Medicine Faculty of Medicine Mansoura university Mansoura Egypt Corresponding Author: Khalid Saif Alsaadi ka39saadi@gmail.com Jan-Dec 2022 7 2 2022 8 1 e36495 16 1 2022 19 1 2022 ©Khalid Saif Alsaadi, Eman Abd-Ellatif, Fatima Alhashmi, Ali Almoqbali, Vidyanand Vaidya. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 07.02.2022. 2022

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 Background

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral zoonotic tickborne disease that has been linked to a high mortality rate in a number of nations. In Oman, the first case of CCHF was discovered in 1995. The Directorate of Disease Surveillance and Control received reports of four individuals with CCHF from various places in Northern Oman between August 17 and August 23, 2019 (during the Eid Adha festival).

 Objective

The aim of this study was to identify CCHF patients, determine the source and mechanism of transmission, and recommend preventive measures to avoid further outbreaks.

 Methods

We arranged for a field visit with teams from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Municipality on the same day of notice (August 23-17, 2019) in the region, and a case series study was undertaken using a semistructured questionnaire.

 Results

The findings revealed that all of the patients were men (three were Omanis), ranging in age from 40 to 55 years. Three of the patients worked in slaughterhouses, and all patients had close contact with raw sheep tissues. Fever and gastrointestinal problems were the most common symptoms, with a case fatality rate of 25%. Late bleeding signs and coagulopathy were detected in the patient who died.

 Conclusions

The causative agent was most likely CCHF virus, and the source of the outbreak was infected imported sheep through direct contact with contaminated biological tissues, based on symptoms, signs, lab tests, and the incubation period. All imported sheep must be tested and flagged at the main gates of the three ports in Oman’s north region.

 CCHF outbreak slaughterhouse sheep patient