ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Kurdistan Region announced Friday that it recorded its first case of hemorrhagic fever: a 42-year-old butcher in Erbil’s eastern town of Koya.

The infected individual is currently receiving necessary treatment at a hospital in Erbil city, Sarkar Surchi, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region’s health ministry confirmed.

Hemorrhagic fever is an infectious viral disease often transmitted from animals to humans, with symptoms that can range from mild to severe and potentially life-threatening. Those working closely with animals face an elevated risk of infection.

Certain variants of the viral infection can also be transmitted through mosquito or tick bites, while others spread from person to person through infected bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, and semen.

Iraq’s Ministry of Health reports that the total number of hemorrhagic fever cases in the country has risen to 29 since the beginning of this year, including five fatalities.

The Kurdistan Region’s health ministry advises the public to follow the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and to notify veterinary teams if there are signs of disease in animals.

Iraqi authorities have also urged citizens to take precautions to mitigate the spread of the disease, especially for those who work closely with livestock.