The Ministry of Health announced the year's first two confirmed cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in the Kurdistan Region, involving a father and son who contracted the virus after slaughtering infected livestock at home.

The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that two cases of hemorrhagic fever have been recorded in Erbil, affecting a 71-year-old father and his 39-year-old son from the same family residing within the city.

The ministry confirmed that the infection resulted from slaughtering livestock inside their home over the past two weeks, leading to direct exposure to the infected animal and its post-slaughter components and secretions. 

Hospitalized CCHF Patients Under Strict Medical Supervision 

After exhibiting symptoms, both patients were admitted to the hospital under suspicion of hemorrhagic fever and underwent extensive diagnostic testing. 

They remain hospitalized under medical supervision, with one individual in stable condition while the other is listed as unstable.

Only Two Local CCHF Cases Amid Screenings for Outside Infections

“So far, following numerous suspected cases of hemorrhagic fever in the Kurdistan Region—including hospital admissions, follow-ups, and screenings throughout the past period of this year—the results have confirmed only these two cases,” the ministry added. 

The ministry stated that these instances are in addition to two separate cases originating from provinces outside of Kurdistan, where the patients traveled to KRG medical facilities to receive specialized treatment.

Health Ministry Urges Immediate Medical Care and Veterinary Alerts 

The Ministry of Health urged citizens to strictly follow health guidelines by immediately notifying veterinary teams if any disease symptoms are suspected in animals. 

Furthermore, individuals exposed to livestock farming or animal products must immediately seek hospital care upon experiencing any symptoms.

Understanding Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a widespread, severe viral disease caused by a tick-borne virus belonging to the Bunyaviridae family. 

It is primarily transmitted to humans through tick bites or via direct contact with the blood, tissue, or bodily fluids of infected livestock during or immediately after slaughter. 

Iraq Records 145 CCHF Cases as Kurdistan Infections Cluster on Farms 

While widespread across Iraq, Kurdistan's cases predominantly cluster among livestock farmers, shepherds, and butchers in rural villages and local markets across Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaymaniyah. 

As of June 2026, Iraq’s federal Ministry of Health has officially recorded 145 laboratory-confirmed cases of CCHF and 9 deaths nationwide since the beginning of the year.