Communicable diseases: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Communicable diseases: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

Sample item

A cattle herder from Gujarat develops fever, severe myalgia, petechiae and bleeding gums after removing ticks from his animals. A nurse who cared for him without protection falls ill a week later. Which vector and precaution fit this infection?

AHyalomma ticks, with strict barrier nursingBHaemaphysalis ticks, with no isolation neededCPhlebotomine sandflies, with indoor residual sprayingDAedes mosquitoes, with larval source reduction

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Hyalomma ticks, with strict barrier nursing

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a tick-borne viral infection transmitted by Hyalomma ticks and by contact with the blood of infected livestock. Person-to-person and nosocomial spread occur through blood and body fluids, so barrier nursing and strict infection control are essential.

Option by option

A. Hyalomma ticks, with strict barrier nursing (correct)
Correct. Hyalomma ticks are the vector, and secondary spread to health workers makes barrier nursing essential.
B. Haemaphysalis ticks, with no isolation needed
Haemaphysalis ticks transmit Kyasanur forest disease, which is not spread from person to person.
C. Phlebotomine sandflies, with indoor residual spraying
Sandflies transmit leishmaniasis, with no haemorrhagic fever or nosocomial spread.
D. Aedes mosquitoes, with larval source reduction
Aedes mosquitoes transmit dengue and chikungunya, and are unrelated to this tick-borne exposure.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Hyalomma ticks, with strict barrier nursing. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a tick-borne viral infection transmitted by Hyalomma ticks and by contact with the blood of infected livestock.

Why is "Haemaphysalis ticks, with no isolation needed" not the answer?

Haemaphysalis ticks transmit Kyasanur forest disease, which is not spread from person to person.

Why is "Phlebotomine sandflies, with indoor residual spraying" not the answer?

Sandflies transmit leishmaniasis, with no haemorrhagic fever or nosocomial spread.

Why is "Aedes mosquitoes, with larval source reduction" not the answer?

Aedes mosquitoes transmit dengue and chikungunya, and are unrelated to this tick-borne exposure.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in PSM. Person-to-person and nosocomial spread occur through blood and body fluids, so barrier nursing and strict infection control are essential.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Communicable diseases: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.