The Iraqi Ministry of Health has confirmed 39 cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Iraq so far this year, with five fatalities, the ministry’s spokesperson announced on Friday.

Saif al-Badr, speaking to Iraqi state media, detailed that 12 of the cases were recorded in Dhi Qar province. Notably, no cases have been reported in the Kurdistan Region.

"The Ministry of Health provided all diagnostic supplies and halls to isolate suspected cases," al-Badr stated, emphasizing the ministry's readiness to address the outbreak.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a tick-borne illness causing severe hemorrhaging, has been endemic in Iraq since 1979. The disease has surged in greater numbers since 2021, causing significant concern among residents, particularly in the southern provinces.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease can be transmitted between humans through contact with infectious blood or body fluids. Symptoms include bleeding, severe headaches, fatigue, blue marks on the skin, and hematuria (blood in the urine), among others.

The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the situation closely and urges the public to take necessary precautions to avoid tick bites and contact with infected individuals.