Vienna clinic treats woman with confirmed Crimean-Congo infection

ORF reports that a woman with Crimean-Congo fever is being treated at Favoriten Clinic, a Vienna hospital. Her condition is described as stable, and the infection is believed to have occurred during a stay in the Middle East.

The Vienna Healthcare Group did not provide further details about the patient. Christoph Wenisch, head of infectious diseases and tropical medicine at Favoriten Clinic, said the disease had been diagnosed quickly and that the patient was now in a special isolation unit, where she was receiving comprehensive care from a team of experts.

Transmission mainly through ticks

Crimean-Congo fever is a rare viral infection transmitted mainly through the bites of infected ticks. It can also spread through direct contact with the blood or tissue of infected animals. The disease occurs mainly in parts of Africa, southeastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Early symptoms typically include sudden fever, severe headaches, muscle and limb pain, back pain, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain. Bleeding and other organ problems can occur, potentially leading to multiple organ failure.

Human-to-human transmission is possible but generally occurs through close, unprotected contact with blood or other bodily fluids.

Clinic prepared for highly infectious diseases

The infectious diseases department at Favoriten Clinic has extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating infectious and tropical diseases. It is prepared to care for patients with highly infectious illnesses, with procedures that are regularly practised and continuously developed.

The teams also conduct regular exercises with emergency services to ensure they can respond quickly, professionally and safely. The clinic said this safeguards both the best possible care for patients and the protection of patients and staff.