Congo virus detected in Isakhel

The district administration has begun screening residents of a locality and carrying out spray after a man was confirmed as afflicted by Congo virus.

The patient, Asif, works in an animal shed in Qamar Mashani.

According to local sources, the man had been suffering from fever for the past few days. After a check-up, the case of Congo virus was confirmed and he was  shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.

On learning of the confirmation of Congo virus, the district administration, health and livestock departments started preventive measures.

The district administration started screening of residents in the vicinity and spraying to prevent the virus from spreading in the area.

Mianwali District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Ameer Ahmed Khan visited all the health centres across the Isa Khel tehsil and instructed the staff to ensure the provision of medical facilities and distribute safety brochures to prevent the spreading of the virus.

Talking to the media, Dr Khan said, “The Congo disease is transmitted to humans by ticks on the body of cattle. These ticks stick to the skin of cattle to suck their blood. If they bite a human, the virus is transmitted.”

According to an advisory from the health department, the virus spreads to humans through the blood or secretions of an infected animal or person.

Symptoms of Congo virus include severe pain, bleeding from the mouth and nose, vomiting, high fever and red marks and spots on the body.

To prevent the spread of the virus, Dr Ameer Ahmed Khan stated, the cattle markets in Mianwali district should be banned for some time or allowed under precautionary standard operating procedures.

However, a decision in this regard will be taken in a meeting with the livestock department, the health official added.