Three New Hemorrhagic Fever Cases Reported in Duhok

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - On Tuesday, Matin Barwari, spokesperson for the General Directorate of Health in Duhok Governorate, confirmed three new cases of hemorrhagic fever.

Barwari assured the public that the infected individuals, hailing from Bardarash district, are currently in stable condition.

Following these new cases, the total number of individuals infected with hemorrhagic fever in the Kurdistan Region has risen to 11.

Hemorrhagic fever, caused by various viruses, can range from mild to life-threatening illnesses, often with no known cure. Ebola, according to The Johns Hopkins University, is one of the most prevalent hemorrhagic viruses. Other types of disease related to this virus are: Dengue, Lassa Fever, Marburg and Yellow Fever.

Causes and Transmission

Hemorrhagic fever is triggered by viruses belonging to four groups: Arenaviruses, Filoviruses, Bunyaviruses, and Flaviviruses. These viruses often reside in insects or rodents, and humans can become infected through exposure to the animal's body, fluids, droppings, or bites from infected insects like mosquitoes or ticks.

Some viruses can also spread through human-to-human contact or by crushing an infected tick.

The Mayo Clinic and the American Foundation classify viral hemorrhagic fevers as infectious diseases.

Transmission primarily occurs through contact with infected animals or insects, with common hosts including mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, and bats. Some types of viral hemorrhagic fever can also be passed from person to person.