DUSHANBE, June 30, Asia-Plus  -- Four cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) have been registered in the country this year, Deputy Minister of Health also Tajik Chief Sanitary Inspector, Azam Mirzoyev, told Asia-Plus today.

According to him, those four persons applied to medical institutions opportunely and were hospitalized that allowed avoiding fatal outcomes.  Two of them - one-and-a-half-year-old baby from Qaramish Jamoat of Temorumalik district and one person from Roudaki district – are still in hospital.  They were hospitalized last week. 

CCHF gets its name from its discovery in the Crimea in the 1940s, and subsequent outbreak in the Congo in the late ''60s.  The disease is carried by ticks, which often live off wild and domesticated animals, and has been found in Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, parts of China, and Central Asia.

On the animal bite cases, Mirzoyev said that 265 victims of animal, mostly dog, bites applied for medical advice last week alone.  “All of them get a rabies vaccine,” he said.

Asked about the infectious diseases situation this summer, Tajik chief sanitary inspector noted that the situation was under control.  “12 persons were hospitalized last week on suspicion of having contracted typhoid, which is seven cases fewer than in the previous week,” said Mirzoyev, “In the meantime, the number of cases of acute intestinal infections has slightly increased in the country.  It connected with use of early vegetables and fruits.”