Precautions: Commissioner wants to prevent Congo outbreak

KARACHI:

Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui wants all relevant departments to take the required measures to prevent an outbreak of the Congo virus.

"Eidul Azha is around the corner and any negligence can lead to disaster," said Siddiqui, while addressing a meeting with officials of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the health department on Tuesday.

However, the commissioner also wants the people to be careful rather than just depending on the government. "Since no vaccine is available for the Congo virus, people should take precautions in order to try and avoid this disease."

Siddiqui informed the meeting that the virus is transmitted either through tick bites or through contact with an infected animal when it is being slaughtered, suggesting the use of gloves when slaughtering animals. "Millions of sacrificial animals will soon reach Karachi and if the authorities do not start an awareness campaign and a fumigation drive, then there is a high chance of a Congo virus or dengue fever outbreak." The commissioner said that funds will be provided for the campaign and drive despite KMC's shortage of resources.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2014.