Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological risk factors for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) patients admitted to our hospitals between January 2004- December 2006. Materials and methods: This was a study of 63 CCHF patients whose definitive diagnosis was based on the detection of CCHF virus-specific IgM by ELISA and/or of genomic segments of the CCHF virus by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 50 healthy controls. Related data were collected prospectively. Results: Twenty-two (50.8%) of the patients were female, and 31 of them (49.2%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 46 years. Anti-CCHF virus IgM was positive in 52 patients, and RT-PCR was positive in 13 patients. Thirty two patients (50.8%) had a tick-bite history before the onset of fever. Fifty-nine (93.6%) patients were involved farming/handling livestock, and they were living in rural area. In univariate analysis of epidemiological factors of the patients and healthy controls, farming (P < 0.001), handled livestock (P < 0.001), living in rural area (P < 0.001), and history of tick-bite (P < 0.001) were determined as the risk factors for CCHF in this study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed only farming (OR = 59.9) and tick-bite history (OR = 5.9) as risk factors for CCHF. The disease was observed between April and August (most frequent in July, 2005 and June, 2006). Conclusion: We saw that CCHF appears to be an increasing seasonal problem in our region, and obtaining the epidemiological factors of CCHF is important for determining the prevention strategy.

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological risk factors for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) patients admitted to our hospitals between January 2004- December 2006. Materials and methods: This was a study of 63 CCHF patients whose definitive diagnosis was based on the detection of CCHF virus-specific IgM by ELISA and/or of genomic segments of the CCHF virus by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 50 healthy controls. Related data were collected prospectively. Results: Twenty-two (50.8%) of the patients were female, and 31 of them (49.2%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 46 years. Anti-CCHF virus IgM was positive in 52 patients, and RT-PCR was positive in 13 patients. Thirty two patients (50.8%) had a tick-bite history before the onset of fever. Fifty-nine (93.6%) patients were involved farming/handling livestock, and they were living in rural area. In univariate analysis of epidemiological factors of the patients and healthy controls, farming (P < 0.001), handled livestock (P < 0.001), living in rural area (P < 0.001), and history of tick-bite (P < 0.001) were determined as the risk factors for CCHF in this study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed only farming (OR = 59.9) and tick-bite history (OR = 5.9) as risk factors for CCHF. The disease was observed between April and August (most frequent in July, 2005 and June, 2006). Conclusion: We saw that CCHF appears to be an increasing seasonal problem in our region, and obtaining the epidemiological factors of CCHF is important for determining the prevention strategy.