Russian south in danger

Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever borne by ticks is threatening to spread in southern Russia. The first symptoms of the fever resemble the flu. The virus attacks the vascular system and infected people suffer internal bleeding and die in a few days. The disease is threatening Russia's Rostov Region, Astrakhan and Volgograd Regions, the Stavropol Territory, Kalmykia and Daghestan. Over 5,000 people have already been bitten by ticks since the start of the epidemiological season. More than 50 people have contracted the disease. Six have died: four in the Stavropol Territory and two in Kalmykia.