27/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published, on 20 July, a note concerning outbreaks of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Turkey. One hundred and fifty laboratory confirmed cases have been located in six provinces in Central Anatolia (Tokat, Gümüshane, Amasya, Corum, Yozgat and Sivas) in a region with little tourism. Fifteen deaths have been recorded. This Nairovirus virus of the Bunyaviridae group first appeared in Turkey in 2002. Transmission of the virus is through infected ticks. The ECDC recalls the usual recommendations to prevent infection through insect bites, mainly using a repellent product containing 30% DEET on exposed skin.