A deadly virus spreading quickly across Europe, Africa and the Middle East could soon be heading to the United Kingdom.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia, however there have been cases in Spain and deaths recorded in Pakistan.

The CCHF virus is spread by ticks and livestock animals, and can move from human to human when there is close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 40 percent.

During a hearing at the UK parliament, James Wood, head of veterinary medicine at Cambridge University, said CCHF could find its way to the UK "through our ticks, at some point".

The majority of cases have occurred in people who work in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians.

The WHO says symptoms include sudden fever, muscle ache, neck pain, backache and headache. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and a sore throat are also possible symptoms.

Other clinical signs of the virus include a fast heart rate, enlarged lymph nodes and a rash in the mouth and throat.

There is no vaccine available for either people or animals.