Germany and Kosovo collaborate to curb deadly Crimean-Congo fever spread by Hyalomma ticks
German and Kosovar scientists are working together to monitor and prevent the Hyalomma tick, which carries the lethal Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, from expanding further in Europe.
Veterinarian Kurtesh Sherifi, after learning of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever cases in Kosovo, partnered with virologist Petra Emmerich of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine. Supported by the German Biosecurity Program, the collaboration established a monitoring network for Hyalomma ticks and the virus, performed large-scale tick collections and seroprevalence testing in farm animals, and ran public-awareness campaigns in schools and among farmers.
Regular visits by German doctors to Kosovo facilitate knowledge exchange, while preventive advice emphasizes repellents, protective clothing, and careful tick removal. These measures have cut Kosovo's severe infections from roughly 100 cases a decade ago to just five recently, though the tick’s range continues to expand northward, with detections in France and concerns for neighboring countries. The scientists stress that without a vaccine or highly effective treatment, vigilance and prevention remain essential.
Why it matters
The partnership helps prevent a high-fatality tick-borne disease from expanding across Europe.
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