Hospitals in northern Greece were yesterday on alert and local livestock farmers were bracing for inspections following the death of a 49-year-old woman bitten by a disease-carrying tick.

The Komotini woman died last week after being bitten by the tick while working on a farm. Tests showed that she had been infected by Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever. The Health Ministry said it would run inspections on local ostrich and cattle farms. The fever, more common among livestock such as ostriches, sheep and cows, can be contracted by humans through blood contact.

The woman reportedly removed the tick from her skin herself, triggering an infection that led to fatal organ failure. Another six people bitten by ticks survived after the insects were surgically removed, according to doctors, who said anyone bitten by ticks should not remove them.