title: Consensus report: Preventive measures for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever during Eid-al-Adha festival.
abstract: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is endemic in Eurasian countries such as, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. CCHF virus is spread by the Hyalomma tick, which is found mainly on cattle and sheep. Muslim countries, in which these animals are sacrificed during Eid-Al-Adha, are among the countries where CCHF is endemic, and it has been observed that CCHF is associated with practices surrounding the Eid-ad-Adha festival. The dates for Eid-Al-Adha drift 10 days earlier in each year according to Georgian calendar. In previous years Eid-al-Adha occurred in autumn-winter months however in the next 10-15 years it will be take place in the summer months when CCHF is more prevalent. This may lead to a rise in the number of cases due to increased dissemination of CCHF virus with uncontrolled animal movements in and between countries. This consensus report focuses on the variable practices regarding animal handling in different regions and possible preventative measures to reduce the incidence of CCHF. Environmental hygiene and personal protection are essential parts of prevention. There is a need for international collaborative preparedness and response plans for prevention and management of CCHF during Eid-Al-Adha in countries where the disease is prevalent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Medical School, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. Electronic address: hakanomu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leblebicioglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Medical School, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. Electronic address: msunbul@omu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sunbul
authors.affiliation: Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; College of Medicine, Al-Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: zmemish@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ziad A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Memish
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. Electronic address: jaltawfi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jaffar A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Al-Tawfiq
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: hurrembodur@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hurrem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bodur
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ozkul@ankara.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Aykut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozkul
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene & Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. Electronic address: aligucuk@omu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gucukoglu
authors.affiliation: Arboviruses and Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers Laboratory National Reference, Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: sadeghchinikar@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sadegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chinikar
authors.affiliation: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: zahra.hasan@aku.edu.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hasan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000821:virology; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever; Eid-al-Adha; Eurasia; one health; slaughtering; zoonosis