Spain reports multiple cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Health authorities in Spain have confirmed multiple cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in 2026. The most recent case involves a 71-year-old man in Salamanca who was hospitalized and transferred to the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid for specialized care and isolation.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), all reported cases of this disease in Europe this year have occurred in Spain, primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Hyalomma ticks. The disease is classified as an emerging threat in Europe, with a high fatality rate estimated between 40% and 50%.

In addition to tick bites, the virus can be transmitted through contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals, posing a risk to healthcare workers and those in close contact with patients. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing, and health officials have implemented monitoring protocols for individuals who were in contact with the affected patients.