NIH issues advisory against Congo fever

People urged to wear light coloured clothes with full sleeves at cattle markets

As people start purchasing sacrificial animals ahead of next week’s Eidul Azha to observe religious rituals, the chances of contracting various diseases from animals have increased. As a result, the health authorities have issued a warning for the public about the potential of the Congo Fever spreading.

The public and the healthcare authorities — for both humans and animals — have been advised to take precautionary measures to avoid any fatal infections.

The Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division (FEDSD) at the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Wednesday issued an advisory regarding prevention and control of the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) ahead of Eidul Azha.

It noted that prevention was their best bet since no vaccine is currently available for the disease and the only way to reduce infections is by raising awareness. The advisory notes that areas, where domestication of animals is very high, can be affected by this disease.

Eidul Azha observed peacefully in Pakistan

CCHF is a tick-borne zoonotic viral disease that is asymptomatic in infected animals, but can be a serious threat to humans, NIH explained in the advisory published on its website www.nih.org.pk.

The NIH warned that healthcare workers along with animal herders, veterinarians, para-veterinary staff, livestock workers, animal merchants, butchers and slaughterhouse workers are most at risk from the disease.

Human infections begin with nonspecific febrile symptoms, but can progress to a serious haemorrhagic syndrome with a high case fatality rate (10 – 40%). It is one of the most widely distributed viral haemorrhagic fevers occurring in different parts of Africa, Middle-East, Asia and Europe.

CCHF is endemic in Pakistan with sporadic outbreaks. Occurrence of virus is correlated with the distribuon of Himalayan tick species. The CCHF virus can be transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal or its blood or tissues.

According to the advisory, the movement of sacrificial animals ahead of Eidul Azha significantly carries the risk of CCHF disease transmission due to increased humans-animal interaction.

Visit at crowded places, direct contact with infectious materials and animals in the markets, the risk of COVID-19 transmission are also expected to rise. This advisory aimed to alert different stakeholders including the human and animal healthcare providers to take timely steps for the prevention and control of CCHF and Covid-19, it added.

The advisory said that there is currently no vaccine available for CCHF so people should focus on instructions to prevent and control of the disease. It said that during visit to cattle markets, use full sleeves and light coloured clothes, gloves, face mask, hand sanitisers and manage social distancing. It asked to use hand washing and hand sanitization items to disinfect and clean hands and avoid all crowded places including large family gathering during Eid and sacrifice of animals.

It also said to wash hands thoroughly with soap after coming in contact with animal or its blood.

Science minister marks Eidul Azha on July 31​​​​​​​

Meanwhile, the NIH has also issued its 48th Seasonal Awareness and Alert Letter (SAAL) for epidemic-prone infectious diseases in Pakistan.

In this letter, NIH exhibited patterns of high priority communicable diseases including cholera, coronavirus diseases (Covid-19), CCHF, dengue, leishmaniasis, malaria, measles, polio and typhoid XDR. These diseases are predicted to be on high during the current season. It also contains detailed introduction of diseases, case definitions, and infectious agents, modes of transmission, case management and prevention.

The main purpose of SAAL is to alert all concerned health authorities and professionals at all levels and to facilitate them for timely and efficient response to the outbreaks and epidemics.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2020.