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Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) was first isolated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1956. To date, only 3 sporadic human cases have been reported in the DRC, and data on CCHFV infection in livestock, which are key players in transmission, are scant.
We conducted a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study on archived human and animal serum samples collected from 25 provinces across the DRC. Samples were tested using an ELISA detecting CCHFV nucleoprotein-specific antibodies.
The seroprevalence of CCHFV infection in humans was 4.4% (55/1,239) and in domestic ruminants was 28.9% (322/1,114). High seroprevalences tended to correlate with increased age, specific climate conditions (e.g., tropical monsoon) and vegetation (e.g., mountain savanna) types, and higher elevation (>600 m).
Our findings suggest that CCHFV actively circulates in animals and sporadically transmits to humans in the DRC, highlighting the need for continued surveillance of CCHFV infection.
CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal published a clinical update in Infectious Disease on 30 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Seroprevalence of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Infection in Humans and Domestic Ruminants, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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