Congo virus: On a lookout for its preys

The untreatable virus can be avoided if necessary precautions are taken

More than Eid festivities and animal sacrifices, our daily news is now full of cases reported for Congo fever. Even though most of us put a deaf ear to such news, the upcoming Eid makes it necessary for us to sit down and familiarise ourselves with the disease. So what should we know about Congo fever?

Congo, more correctly called Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), is an infectious disease caused by a tick-borne virus. The disease is named so because it was first described in Crimea (1944) and identified properly in Congo (1956). It is transferred by ticks, mostly from Hyaloma genus, a hard-bodied tick, to both domestic animals and humans. It is similar to other viral haemorrhagic fevers, including Dengue and Ebola. But unlike these two diseases, Pakistan has a long relationship with Congo; the first case was diagnosed back in 1976.



According to World Health Organization, CCHF outbreaks have a fatality rate of 10% to 40%. This means every outbreak may result in 10 to 40 deaths, per 100 cases confirmed. As a result, public health experts placed it in a priority list for research and development efforts last year in December. The disease is endemic in our country, meaning that outbreaks regularly occur here. Peak outbreak seasons are fall and spring that coincide with the lifecycle of ticks.

How does the virus spread to humans?

Such as Dengue, Congo virus too requires a passage to get to humans. Generally, the ticks act as primary hosts or reservoirs for Congo virus, just as mosquitoes do for Dengue. There is a tick-animal-tick cycle that goes on. An infected tick when bites an animal, usually livestock animals such as sheep, goats and cattle, can then transfer the virus to these animals.



Infection is mild in these animals, making it impossible to notice if a particular animal is carrying the virus. The virus can mostly be transmitted to humans by treating, butchering or eating an infected animal. It can also be transferred directly from ticks and from blood and/or tissue of an infected person. In endemic regions such as Pakistan, those who are at risk of catching the virus include animal herders, livestock workers and people who work in the slaughterhouse. Healthcare workers may also be at risk if proper precautions are not taken while working with infected blood, body fluids and patients.

What are the signs of CCHF?

If transmitted by a tick, the virus takes one to three days to develop the disease. However, if the virus is transmitted through infected blood or tissue, it will take five to six days. First signs include muscle ache, dizziness, stiffness, backache, neck pain and sore eyes. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, sore throat and diarrhoea are some other symptoms, which we should be wary about. Rashes may develop from bleeding in mouth and throat, and on the skin. Death may also occur due to kidney, liver or pulmonary failure after the fifth day of disease.

No definite cure

Sadly, the infection is untreatable and the condition can only be managed by supportive therapies. Antiviral medication with the drug Ribavarin can be provided as soon as a person is diagnosed. Other than that, blood component replacement is carried out in intensive care. Patients are isolated and cared for, by taking necessary precautions.

Since the death rate of CCHF is approximately 30% and there are no effective treatment or vaccination available, prevention protocols depend on precautionary measures taken by public.

Even though the first case was identified decades ago, the outbreaks started from the millennium. This season, over six people have died from Congo, the infection being predominantly noted in cattle handlers.

Steps to be taken to avoid catching the virus

Although the health department has made anti-tick sprays mandatory where sacrificial animals are kept, we must take precautions when visiting the cattle market.

Most importantly, minimise your contact with animals and wear masks, gloves and socks to avoid tick bites. One must also wear light coloured clothes to avoid attracting ticks and completely cover arms and legs.



Since blood of sacrificial animals can also transmit the virus, while culling the animal face should be covered. Eyes and mouth should be protected from animal blood. Although children love playing and running around with these animals, adults in the family should make sure they wash their hands properly with soap. Even while washing and cutting the meat in households, one must take precautions as it will mostly likely have some blood remaining on it.

With the flush of animals entering the major metropolitan cities, there is a risk of an outbreak. While vaccinations and tick sprays have been mandated by the government, there is no way for a common man to know if an animal has the disease. Remember, the infection is mild in animals, unlike the sudden onset of serious illness in humans.



High fever and gum bleeding are the most prominent signs of the disease. So this season, instead of ignoring fevers as cold or flu, health experts recommend seeking medical care immediately. Early diagnosis can save a person from this fatal illness. We must also note that although the peak occurs during these months because of the sacrificial season, cases are brought forward throughout the year.

While steps taken by the government are appreciable, the livestock industry needs strict regulations. The primary source of infection is the breeding farms and villages where the animals are reared. The whole process, from rearing to sacrificing the animal, should be regulated by the government to ensure none of the unhealthy animals are brought into the market.

Kanwal Tariq is a bio-technologist, a writer and a feminist.