Specialists in Kyrgyzstan gained essential knowledge of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) as part of a WHO-led training initiative. CCHF, primarily transmitted through ticks or contact with infected animals, poses a significant threat to public health due to its potential to cause epidemics, its high case fatality rate of 10–40%, and its challenging prevention and treatment protocols. The training course covered epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and control of this potentially fatal zoonotic disease.
Organized by the WHO Country Office in Kyrgyzstan and funded through the Pandemic Fund, the initiative took place at the Osh State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision and Anti-plague Station of the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan. The initiative underscored the critical importance of the One Health approach, which seeks to foster comprehensive collaboration and coordination across various sectors. By integrating efforts from human health, animal health and environmental health professionals, the programme aims to significantly bolster the capabilities of health, environment and veterinary experts in Osh and the wider southern region of Kyrgyzstan.
Hands-on experience
The training brought together a diverse group of professionals, including doctors, veterinarians, epidemiologists, entomologists, virologists, environmentalists and other specialists crucial to combating the disease effectively. Participants received intensive instruction on various aspects of CCHF management, from understanding its epidemiological and clinical patterns to mastering diagnostic techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods, which are critical for early detection.
Practical sessions included demonstrations of tick collection techniques in the Chiyrchyk valley, in Osh. These hands-on experiences are vital for enabling authorities to manage the disease effectively and prevent potential outbreaks in Kyrgyzstan.
Zuura Bokoshova, an epidemiologist from the Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance in Suzak district, Osh, said: “The training focused on improving diagnostic skills and surveillance methods for CCHF, equipping health and veterinary professionals with the necessary skills to tackle this potentially deadly disease in southern Kyrgyzstan”.
She also commented that incorporating the One Health approach into the training emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. This approach is critical for effective CCHF management, ensuring a comprehensive strategy for disease surveillance and response.
From the WHO Country Office, Kalysbek Kydyshov, One Health Catalyst, added: “The hands-on experience of tick collection techniques demonstrated in the Chiyrchyk valley was invaluable in putting their knowledge into practice”.
Such initiatives are key to bolstering the country’s capacity to handle CCHF and other zoonotic diseases, ensuring a coordinated and effective response to public health threats. Previously, the same training was held in Bishkek in May, covering participants from the northern part of the country.