Review of Epidemiological Situation on Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in the Russian Federation in 2015 and Prognosis for 2016

Abstract

This paper presents analysis of epidemiological situation on Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Russia in 2015; summarized are the results of epidemiological survey of the territory of the natural CCHF focus in the south of the European part of Russia. In 2015, the Russian Federation reported 139 cases of CCHF. The most significant increase in the incidence of CCHF occurred in the Stavropol Territory and Rostov Region. Identified was CCHF case in Voronezh city imported from the Crimean Federal District. Marked is the involvement of new administrative areas in the epidemic core of the natural focus. The aggravation of the epidemiological situation in the South of Russia was mainly due to the favorable for dissemination of ticks, H. marginatum, climatic conditions in winter 2014-2015. In 2016, in the case of successful Ixodids wintering, as well as ineffectively exercised acaricide treatments, the numbers of H. marginatum may increase compared to 2015, which may become the cause of augmented incidence among the population.