Iraq boosts haemorrhagic fever precautions before Eid al-Adha animal sacrifices

As Muslims across Iraq prepare to mark Eid al-Adha this Friday with the traditional slaughter of livestock, authorities are ramping up health precautions amid a rise in Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) cases.

The Federal Ministry of Health last week confirmed 95 recorded infections and 13 deaths from the tick-borne disease since the start of the year. The announcement comes as thousands of Iraqis gear up to sacrifice animals, known as adahi, during one of Islam's most significant festivals.

In a statement to the Iraqi News Agency, Health Ministry spokesperson Saif al-Badr said that no fatalities had been recorded in the past week, although new cases continue to surface. "All recorded infections are among livestock breeders, butchers, and those involved in animal transport or slaughter," he noted.

The highest number of infections was reported in Dhi Qar province, with 29 cases and one death. Other affected areas include Baghdad's Rusafa district (11 infections, 3 deaths), Wasit (11 infections, 1 death), and Kirkuk, which recorded 5 infections but 4 deaths. Smaller numbers were noted across the rest of the country, including the Kurdistan Region.

 Al-Badr stressed that the disease remains "under control" and that all health institutions are equipped to diagnose and isolate suspected cases. He urged citizens to wear protective gear when handling animals or their by-products, and warned that tick bites remain the primary mode of transmission.

The ministry is advising the public to purchase meat only from authorised slaughterhouses, store it at low temperatures, and cook it thoroughly. Early symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, and muscle pain. Delayed diagnosis can lead to internal bleeding and increase the risk of death, he warned.

Despite these official assurances, some cattle breeders expressed scepticism, even some of them denying the existence of such a fever. Speaking to The New Arab on the condition of anonymity, livestock owners accused the government of failing to provide adequate pesticides or veterinary support.

One cattle owner in northern Iraq claimed the authorities "exaggerate the situation every year before Eid," adding that the real aim is to pressure the public into using slaughterhouses owned by politically connected businesses.

Efforts to obtain a response from federal or regional health officials were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

CCHF, first diagnosed in Iraq in 1979, remains endemic in rural parts of the country, where decades of conflict have battered public services, including healthcare. In 2022, Iraq recorded 212 infections and 27 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The World Health Organisation describes CCHF as a "viral tick-borne disease transmitted to humans by bites of infected ticks, and by direct contact with blood or tissues from infected humans and livestock".

As Eid nears, authorities say they are working closely with the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, and Interior, alongside municipal bodies, to monitor developments and prevent further spread of the disease. Health teams across Baghdad, Iraq's provinces, and the Kurdistan Region remain on alert.