Iraq sprays farms and cattle in race to stop deadly Crimean-Congo fever - in pictures

The country has registered eight deaths so far in 2022

A herd of cattle is rounded up as members of a veterinary team spray disinfectant, in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk. All photos: AFP

Authorities said one person died on Friday of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever as cases of the virus spread to the country's north.

Veterinary workers spray cattle and enclosures with disinfectant at a farm in Kirkuk.

Iraq has registered eight deaths from 40 cases of the illness since the start of the year.

Cattle is gathered as members of a veterinary team disinfect animals and enclosures at a farm in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk, on May 7, 2022, a day after registering the first death of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever as cases of the virus spread to the country's north. - Iraq has registered eight deaths from 40 cases of the illness, also known as Congo fever, since the start of the year, a health ministry spokesman said. The disease is tick-borne and causes severe haemorrhaging, according to the World Health Organization. (Photo by Shwan NAWZAD / AFP)

People are generally infected through contact with the blood of infected animals, often after slaughtering livestock.

It can also be transmitted between humans through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected persons.

The disease has a high death rate of between 10 and 40 per cent of all cases.

Kirkuk authorities have prohibited the transport of cattle to or from the province.

The poor, largely rural southern province is known for rearing cattle, sheep and goats, all of which are potential carriers of the disease.

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