Congo fever: Ban on sacrificial animals’ movement within city

Health experts call for awareness drive on large scale.

ISLAMABAD:

Ashrafullah, a shepherd, was offloading a van carrying 10 to 12 sacrificial animals at Pirwadhai Road on Monday evening. He had brought the animals from Afghanistan. A number of sheep were covered with mud. This makes one wonder how he entered the city with the animals. And where was the administration, which makes tall claims on every Eidul Azha of taking preventive measures to restrict their movement to specific areas.

Upon being quizzed on the potential threat of congo haemorrhagic fever, the shepherd replied he did not know anything about the disease. When asked how he would remove mud from the cattle, he said, “I will wash them at a tap near a katchi abadi in sector I-10 or I-9.” After which, he would sell the animals by the road side, as he would do every season, instead of taking them to the local cattle market, he added.

When contacted, Rawalpindi Commissioner Zahid Saeed said the administration has imposed section 144 in the city. No shepherd will be allowed to move cattle within the city and will be restricted to the designated areas.

“Officials of our livestock department have been deputed at various points of the city to keep a check on any violation of the ban. They will also medically examine the sacrificial animals coming into the cattle market,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Niamatullah, head of Veterinary Sciences department, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi told The Express Tribune that the government has, so far not taken any preventive measures to avoid the spread of the disease. “It is important to spray all the sacrificial animals before allowing them into either urban areas or the local market. But that is hardly ensured,” he lamented. The cattle coming from hilly areas are more prone to carrying ticks, which is a communicable disease, he added.

“It is tricky to move cattle carrying ticks, within the city, as they may contaminate the fruit and vegetables being sold in open markets. Their secretions can also easily contaminate water sources,” Dr Niamatullah added. He stressed the need for awareness among public and shepherds about preventive measures.

Dr Abdus Salam, Director Emergency Department Shifa International Hospital Islamabad said it is estimated that every year about 30-35 people fall victim to Congo fever. “Though, considering the recent outbreak of dengue fever in the country, there is a need of aggressive surveillance to avoid the outbreak of the fever,” he said. October is the peak season for the outbreak, he added.

The Rawalpindi commissioner told this reporter that all the allied hospitals have been directed to take measures to tackle any untoward situation.

Dr Javed Hayat, in-charge Infection Control Committee at Holy Family Hospital, said no directives have come from the city administration but the doctors are preparing against any cases of the fever.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2011.