Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Ministry of Health said on Monday that there have been 145 confirmed cases and nine deaths from hemorrhagic fever since the beginning of 2026, despite strengthened preventive efforts.

The spokesperson for the Health Ministry, Saif al-Badr, said in a statement that since the first case was documented on May 7 in Kirkuk province, the number reached 145 confirmed cases with nine deaths in different Iraqi provinces.

Badr revealed that the southern Iraqi province of Dhi Qar was the most impacted, with 74 cases and six deaths. Muthanna province trailed behind with 18 cases and no fatalities.

According to official reports, 37 people died and 247 people were infected with the virus in 2025.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is transmitted to people by tick bites or exposure to sick animals’ blood or tissues during or immediately after slaughter.

The WHO also said that the mortality rate of the viral disease is 40 percent.

According to the WHO, hemorrhagic fever is spread from person to person by direct contact with an infected individual’s blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids.

People most vulnerable to the disease are livestock breeders and people working in butchery, according to the Iraqi Ministry of Health.

The illness, which causes muscle and joint discomfort, high fever, and bleeding, has sparked international alarm because no immunizations are available.

The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture’s veterinary department said earlier that it was starting a nationwide campaign to eliminate hemorrhagic fever by spraying livestock with acaricides and tick-killing sprays.

The campaign aims to eradicate hemorrhagic fever and preserve the health of Iraqi citizens and their livestock.