Preventative measures: Keeping Congo virus at bay during Eid

Peshawar deputy commissioner cancels holidays for assistant commissioners

PESHAWAR:

Peshawar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Syed Zahirul Islam has directed the livestock department to take precautionary measures to prevent the outbreak of the Congo hemorrhagic fever and cancelled Eid holidays for assistant commissioners.   

Speaking at a meeting with the livestock department on Saturday, DC Islam issued the orders to the senior veterinary director, deputy director livestock and assistant commissioners.

DC Islam cited experts who said blood containing the parasite in affected animals could cause the Congo fever.

He urged citizens to use gloves while slaughtering sacrificial animals as a precautionary measure.

He also asked the livestock department workers to spray houses which have sacrificial animals and cattle markets with tick spray.

According to Islam, cattle markets will be provided all facilities under the directives of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government.

“All steps will be taken to assist veterinary doctors and technical staff stationed at the city’s biggest cattle markets on Ring Road,” said Islam.

“A team would be setup to survey the situation and provide a detailed report to me every 12 hours,” he added.  Moreover, a full record of the health of the animals will be maintained to prevent the disease from spreading any further.

According to the DC, over 300,000 sacrificial animals had been brought into the city before Eidul Azha. Congo virus is prevalent in animals which come from the rural areas and can infect the city’s residents if preventive measures are not taken, Islam added.

However, the animals had not been medically examined despite the presence of veterinary hospitals across the city.

With the arrival of sacrificial animals in the city, the risk of yet another outbreak has increased. In July, 11 patients with the Congo virus, including six from Afghanistan and one hospital staffer, were brought to Hayatabad Medical Complex. Of these, five died.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2014.