KARACHI: In accordance with the arrangements of festivities of Eid ul Azha, the Provincial health authorities have issued high alert over dangers of Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever and have established a set plan to organize medical camps and veterinary facilities in all cattle markets of the city.
Congo Virus has claimed around two dozen lives in the past 3 years. In 2018, so far, this deadly microbe has killed 5 people within the city of Karachi. No vaccine has been introduced to fight this lethal disease.
Sindh Health Ministry has directed the associated authorities to take preventive measures to control the spread of this deadly disease. District Health Officers and Veterinary Doctors are ordered to visit all cattle markets to monitor health of the animals brought to the city for sale. The government has asked the authorities to specify separate inspection points for animals, away from populated localities and allocate proper sites for animal markets.
The health authorities have also instructed the Veterinary Department of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to make sure that no infected animal enters the city’s cattle markets. The individuals and butchers who are in-charge of taking care of such animals have been advised to adopt pre-emptive measures to keep themselves safe.
In Karachi, Municipal authorities have been directed to ensure proper sanitation at the site of animal markets and make available proper supply of clean drinking water. The visitors are advised to wear full sleeved, light colored clothing, so that it gets easier to spot ticks from animals. The animal handlers and buyers are asked to wear gloves to minimize the chances of infection. The cattle markets are said to be fumigated before and during Eid days.
It was disclosed that, every CCHF victim acquired the viral disease through the bite of an infected tick found on animals. This lethal virus is also said to spread due to contact with contaminated blood and needles, and those dealing with dairy farming, livestock, veterinarians, medical personnel, and butchers, are most likely to catch the deadly virus.
As per the experts, Congo virus’s infection fatality rate was up to 50 per cent.
