Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a high-fatality, tick-borne viral disease endemic to parts of Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe, including Kazakhstan. This study provides a descriptive and analytical epidemiological assessment of CCHF cases in the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan between May 2023 and August 2024. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using confirmed CCHF case data from national surveillance reports. Demographic, geographic, occupational, and seasonal characteristics were analyzed. Laboratory confirmation was performed using real-time PCR and ELISA IgM. Statistical analyses included descriptive summaries, Chi-square and t -tests, and linear regression for trend evaluation. A total of 24 confirmed CCHF cases were identified, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 4.1%. Most of the patients were male (62.5%) and from rural areas (91.7%), with a mean age of 39.5 ± 15.1 years. Occupational exposure to livestock or agriculture was reported in 54.1% of cases. Seasonal peaks occurred in June (50%) and July (33.3%). Common symptoms included weakness (100%), fever (75%), and hemorrhagic signs such as hematomas (20.3%) and epistaxis (16.6%). Tick bites were reported in 50% of patients. Although 54.2% of cases were classified as severe, early medical attention (mean: 2.7 ± 2.2 days) likely contributed to a favorable outcome. Comparative analysis showed a statistically significant association between rural residence and livestock exposure ( P = 0.04). Trend analysis indicated an increasing incidence from April to June ( R 2 = 0.38, P = 0.12), though not statistically significant. CCHF continues to pose a public health threat in southern Kazakhstan, particularly among rural, working-age populations. The low CFR observed may reflect improvements in early detection and clinical management. These findings support the need for enhanced tick surveillance, community education, and occupational safety interventions in endemic regions.
Nurmakhanov et al. (Thu,) studied this question.