Daily Times

KARACHI: Sindh Health Department has launched an awareness drive across the city to prevent and control Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) during upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

According to Director Health Services, Karachi, Dr Muhammad Taufiq, the objective of the awareness drive was to sensitize healthcare authorities to further strengthen and improve the level of preparedness in prevention and control of Congo fever.

Congo viral fever is deadly disease that spreads through tick-bites found on animals. People who deal with dairy farming and livestock could be infected and carry the virus. CCHF virus transmits to people either by tick bite or through contact with infected blood or tissues of the infected animals during or immediately after slaughter. Wild and domestic animals, such as cattle, buffaloes, goats and sheep are silent carriers of this virus and the adult ticks feed on these animals. Dr Taufiq informed that the medical camps had also been established in cattle markets to provide first aid and treatment facilities to visitors and cattle handlers. Medicines would also be provided to patients in medical camps. He said fumigation around the cattle markets was the responsibility of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

Earlier, National Institute of Health (NIH) had also issued an advisory for prevention and control of Congo fever for upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, saying as there was no vaccine for the disease. In 2016, Congo claimed 10 lives in Karachi out of which four belonged to Karachi, two each from Bahawalpur and Afghanistan, one from Hyderabad and one hailed from elsewhere in Sindh. However, 75 other patients were also diagnosed in Karachi last year, who luckily survived.

“There was currently no vaccine available for humans and the only way to reduce infection was by raising awareness,” Director Health Services Karachi said.

He advised the citizens to adopt precautionary measures like wearing gloves and other protective clothing while handling animals during slaughtering, butchering and culling procedures in slaughterhouses or at home. He said public health workers along with animal herders, veterinarians, para-veterinary staff, livestock workers, animal merchants, butchers and slaughterhouse workers were at risk of the disease.

“As a Congo infected person can infect other people; therefore, precautionary measures are necessary for people who deal with livestock,” Dr Taufiq said. Dr Taufiq said that pamphlets had already been distributed by Districts Health Officers (DHOs), while banners were also placed at different sites of the city to create awareness among general public.

Published in Daily Times, August 28^th 2017.