Congo virus: Livestock Dept ordered to spray cattle markets

‘Farmers, workers at animal markets vulnerable’.

LAHORE: Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique on Tuesday directed the Health Department and the Livestock Department to take steps to prevent the outbreak of Congo fever.

He was chairing a meeting at Civil Secretariat. Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik, Health Services Director General Zahid Pervaiz, Additional Health Secretary (Technical) Salman Shahid, Health Director Centre for Disease Control Ahmed Afifi and Health Executive District Officer Zulfiqar Ali attended the meeting.

The adviser directed officials from the Livestock Department to spray the cattle markets set up by district governments.

Afifi said Congo fever was spread through tics infesting sheep and cows. He said Congo virus could be transmitted to a person through blood and secretions of animals. He said farmers and workers at animal markets were particularly vulnerable.

“Doctors, nurses and paramedics treating Congo fever patients are also at risk. They should be very careful,” he said.

According to medical experts, mortality rate from Congo fever is about 50 to 70 per cent.

Pervaiz said the Health Department had issued guidelines related to Congo fever treatment to the principals of medical colleges and medical superintendents of government hospitals. Self-protection kits had also been provided to health facilities, he said.

King Edward Medical University Associate Professor Somia Iqtidar said symptoms of Congo fever and dengue fever were similar. “Dengue virus can only be transmitted through mosquitoes. However, Congo virus can be transmitted from a person to another person through blood and secretions,” Iqtidar said.

Earlier, officers from the Livestock Department told the adviser that anti-tics spray was being carried out at cattle markets with help from district governments. They said sacrificial animals from Balochistan were also being sprayed against the Congo virus.

Secretary Malik ordered that guidelines regarding preventive measures and patient management be once again circulated among the departments concerned.

He directed the Health Services director general to immediately arrange training of doctors and nurses in Congo patient management with the cooperation of the World Health Organisation.

He asked Livestock Department officers to keep track of the activities of its workers. He called for carrying advertisements in newspapers educating citizens about Congo fever. He said it was the Livestock Department’s responsibility to adopt preventive measures against the spread of the virus.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2014.