MADRID: Tragically, a 74-year-old man in Spain has died from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a virus sometimes referred to as an “Ebola-like disease“. It is believed that the man contracted the deadly disease from a tick bite in the Toledo region.

Due to the severity of his condition, he was first admitted to a hospital outside Madrid and then moved to a special isolation unit at the city’s La Paz University Hospital. After initially stabilising, his condition deteriorated rapidly, ultimately resulting in his death.

CCHF is a highly contagious disease that can have a mortality rate of 40%. It is spread through tick bites and contact with the blood or body fluids of infected humans or animals. Although rare, Spain has documented incidents in the past; the most recent fatality was in May 2020. Health officials are now constantly monitoring the situation and are on high alert to prevent the disease from spreading.

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