ISLAMABAD: The Field Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance Division of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad issued advisories regarding prevention and control of typhoid fever and the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) for upcoming Eidul Azha. According to the institute, the objective of these advisories is to sensitise human and animal healthcare authorities to further strengthen and improve the level of preparedness in prevention and control of CCHF. The advisory stated that CCHF is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus of the Bunyaviridae family with a case fatality rate of 10-40 percent. Ticks, especially of the Hyalommagenus are both reservoir and vector for the CCHF virus. Numerous 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. The areas where domestication of animals is very high, can be affected by this disease. During 2017, Pakistan has seen a total of 51 positive cases of CCHF. Since the beginning of this year, a total of 59 suspected cases have been submitted for testing, out of which eight have been found positive for CCHF with three deaths in number. Healthcare workers along with animal herders, veterinarians, para-veterinary staff, livestock workers, animal merchants, butchers and slaughterhouse workers are at risk of the disease. Apart from them, the close contacts caring the suspected case and person involved in burial practices are also at risk of getting infection. There is currently no vaccine available for humans and the only way to reduce infection is by raising awareness. Public health advice should focus on several aspects: wear protective clothing, wear light coloured clothing when visiting to animal market to allow easy detection of ticks on clothes and also regularly examine clothing and skin for ticks; if found, remove them safely and use approved acaricides/repellents on clothing and skin, don’t crush the ticks, wear gloves and other protective clothing while handling animals or their tissues, notably during slaughtering, butchering and culling procedures in slaughterhouses or at home, avoid close physical contact with CCHF-infected people, wear gloves and protective equipment when taking care of ill people, wash hands frequently after caring or visiting ill people and insect repellents are the most effective in warding off ticks in human populations. Viewing the situation of increased number of typhoid fever cases in the country, the institute has issued advisory on typhoid fever. Typhoid fever spreads mostly in summer and rainy season in Pakistan. Typhoid is caused by bacteria, which occurs through feco-oral route and spreads through contaminated food, milk, frozen fruits and water or through close contact with already infected person. Contamination is mainly caused by poor sanitation and mixing of sewerage water in drinking water. Newly emerged form of typhoid fever, extensively drug resistant typhoid is being reported in some areas of Sindh, especially in Hyderabad and Karachi. More than 2,000 positive cases of XDR typhoid have been reported so far. NIH also disseminates awareness material about these diseases for general population, health sector stakeholders and all provincial authorities. The institute also displayed the poster advisories in Urdu in public places. Published in Daily Times, August 16th 2018.