74-Year-Old Dies from Crimean-Congo Fever in Spain

A 74-year-old man died in Madrid after contracting Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a tick-borne virus with a fatality rate of up to 40%. He was bitten by a tick at his holiday home in Toledo and was admitted to Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital before being transferred to an isolation unit at La Paz University Hospital. Initially stable, the patient's condition quickly deteriorated, leading to his death, marking the first CCHF-related fatality in Spain since May 2020. CCHF is categorized by the World Health Organization as a priority disease due to its pandemic potential and currently lacks a vaccine. The virus spreads primarily through tick bites and contact with infected animal blood or tissues. Health authorities are on alert to prevent further infections as the disease, endemic to regions with warmer climates, raises concerns about its potential spread to other areas, including Europe.