Fatal Crimean-Congo Fever Case Stirs Greek Alert

The news in Greek

1. πεθαίνω
   παύω να ζω, χάνω τη ζωή μου ↩︎
2. γεωργός  (m.)
   ο άνθρωπος που ασχολείται με καλλιέργεια αγροτικών προϊόντων ↩︎
3. τσιμπούρι  (n.)
   μικρό αρθρόποδο που ζει παρασιτικά σε ζώα και ανθρώπους ↩︎
4. φροντίζω
   παρέχω βοήθεια ή φροντίδα σε κάποιον ↩︎
5. νοσηλεύομαι
   βρίσκομαι υπό ιατρική παρακολούθηση σε νοσοκομείο ↩︎
6. μεταδίδομαι
   διαδίδομαι από έναν φορέα σε άλλον ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What caused the 70-year-old man’s illness in Larissa?

Question 2: What is the Greek health organization doing in response to the case?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
πεθαίνω	to die
γεωργός  (m.)	farmer
τσιμπούρι  (n.)	tick
φροντίζω	to care for
νοσηλεύομαι	to be hospitalised
μεταδίδομαι	to be transmitted

Read the full story

The recent death of a 70-year-old man from Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in the Greek region of Larissa has prompted public health authorities to surge into action. The event marks the first confirmed fatality from the disease in Greece since 2008, igniting widespread concern.

The man, a livestock farmer from Elassona, succumbed to the disease after reportedly being bitten by a tick on his farm. The patient experienced a severe deterioration in health and was eventually treated at the University Hospital of Larissa but unfortunately did not survive.

In the wake of this incident, there has been confirmation of a second case involving a doctor who had direct contact with the deceased. Currently hospitalized in stable condition, the doctor is receiving a reserved supply of a specific treatment that Greece had kept for such rare instances.

CCHF is a viral disease known for its high mortality rate of 30-50% among hospitalised patients. It primarily spreads through ticks or contact with fluid from infected animals or humans. The disease can cause symptoms ranging from mild fever to severe bleeding and organ failure.

Given the potential risks, the National Organisation for Public Health (EODY) has stressed the importance of precautionary measures, particularly for those in rural or agricultural settings. Recommendations include wearing protective clothing, using insect repellents, regularly checking the body for ticks, and seeking medical advice if symptoms appear, especially after exposure to tick-prone environments.

The authorities, in collaboration with veterinary and healthcare bodies, have initiated intensive monitoring and response strategies. This includes tracing contacts, sampling potential sources in the affected farm, and analysing ticks collected in the vicinity for the virus.

The concerning spread of CCHF is not isolated to Greece; similar cases have been reported in regions with similar climatic and agricultural conditions, like Northern Macedonia, suggesting possible cross-border transmission.

Public health officials reassure that while tick bites in the area pose a relatively low risk, vigilance is necessary as infected ticks can carry severe diseases. Both domestic and wild animals can harbor the virus temporarily, thus becoming conduits for tick infection.

This incident highlights the ongoing risk and challenges faced by healthcare workers and agricultural communities. Prompt and coordinated responses remain essential to prevent further transmission and ensure public health safety.

Info: “Greek Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Greek,” a language school specialising in teaching Greek. We offer various types of online Greek courses, including Greek for beginners, designed to introduce new learners to the language in a structured manner.