Health concerns: Outbreak of Congo virus feared

Demand availability of veterinary doctors in cattle markets.

ISLAMABAD: The free movement of sacrificial animals in populated areas can spread the Congo virus, fear health officials.

They have demanded the government to take immediate measures to prevent an outbreak in the twin cities.

Local health officials suggest that sacrificial animals must be kept in quarantine or designated places declared as cattle markets around Eidul Azha instead of allowing cattle traders to take them into streets and populated areas freely.

They also expressed apprehensions that the virus can spread in the twin cities through sacrificial animals brought from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

“There is a great chance of prevalence of Congo virus in sacrificial animals brought to the twin cities, particularly those in poor health conditions, from K-P,” said Dr Sharif, a private medical practicioner. In Peshawar, some nine people lost their lives due to the virus’ outbreak last year and this year the number being reported is 25, he revealed.

He urged authorities to ensure availability of veterinary doctors in cattle markets, and said the government should take necessary measures to allow entry of only healthy sacrificial animals into the twin cities.

Strict action must be taken against cattle traders who bring unhealthy and sick animals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, he added.

The virus, known as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks.

CCHF outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 40 per cent, according to the World Health Organization.

The virus is primarily transmitted to people from ticks and livestock animals. Human-to-human transmission can occur resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected persons — which occurs during the sacrifice of animals.

There is no vaccine available for either people or animals.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2015.