Circulation of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus at the Domestic–Wildlife Interface of the Mnisi Community, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

BACKGROUND: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is caused by an arthropod-borne virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), which can infect a wide range of species, including humans, and is endemic in domestic and wild animals in Africa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: = 182) in the Mnisi community (Mpumalanga Province, South Africa), an area characterized by frequent interactions between humans and animals susceptible to CCHFV infection. The presence of CCHFV-specifc antibodies was determined using a commercial double antigen enzyme-immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: CCHF-specific antibodies were detected in a high proportion of sera from domestic ruminants (72.8% cattle, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68.3-77.0; 21.6% goats, 95% CI: 15.6-28.6), whereas all sera from impala antelope and dogs tested negative. CONCLUSIONS: CCHFV seroprevalence in domestic ruminants is high, confirming widespread exposure to CCHFV in the Mnisi community and highlighting the potential risk of transmission to humans, particularly cattle herders.