Congo fever ‘No need to panic’

LAHORE: The committee constituted by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to monitor implementation of standard operational procedures regarding prevention and eradication of Congo fever virus met on Thursday under Additional Chief Secretary Shamail Ahmad Khwaja.

Livestock and Dairy Development Secretary Naseem Sadiq informed the participants that eight people suffering from the disease were cattle handlers from Balochistan. The virus is prevalent in Afghanistan, he said.

The ticks found on the skin of sacrificial animals from the Punjab had been found free of virus, the secretary said. He urged people not to panic. He said the provincial government had taken prompt precautions and vaccinated domestic animals including goats, sheep and cows in Chakwal, Attock and Dera Ghazi Khan.

He said the Livestock Department had approached 2.5 million animal handlers through robocalls and educated them about prevention measures. He said of the 35 species of ticks, only one was capable of becoming a Congo virus vector.  Faisalabad Commissioner Momin Agha informed the meeting that the district administration had set up stalls selling gloves and anti-tick spray in the cattle markets.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2016.