Call to implement joint strategy to control congo fever

In view of large-scale movement of sacrificial animals on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has directed Health and Livestock Departments to implement a joint strategy to control Congo fever. He directed officers of Livestock Department to ensure spray in cattle markets and sale points set up by the city district governments.
He said this while presiding over a joint meeting of officers of Punjab Health Department and Livestock Department here on Tuesday. Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik, Director General Health Punjab Dr Zahid Pervaiz, Additional Secretary Health (Technical) Dr Salman Shahid, Director Health CDC Dr Ahmed Afifi, EDO Health Lahore Dr Zulfiqar Ali and officers of Livestock Department attended the meeting.
Giving a presentation on Congo virus, Dr Ahmed Afifi said Congo fever was spread through tics which were common on the skin of sheep and cows. "Congo virus can also infect a person on contact with the blood and other secretions of animals," he said, adding: "Mostly farmers of livestock farms, workers of animal markets, more vulnerable to Congo virus." However, he said, doctors, nurses and paramedics who treated the Congo fever patients were also at a risk, therefore, precautionary measures should be adopted by those people to protect themselves from Congo virus.
According to medical experts, mortality rate in Congo fever cases is very high and is about 50 to 70 percent. Director General Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz said the hospital staff and attendants engaged in the treatment and looked after of Congo fever patient were at risk; therefore, they should take all precautionary measures before going to the patient. He said that Health Department had issued necessary guidelines to the principals of medical colleges and medical superintendents of government hospitals for patient care. Moreover, self-protection kits had also been provided to the health facilities, he added.
Associate Professor of King Edward Medical University Dr Somia Iqtidar said the symptoms of Congo fever and dengue were almost similar; however, dengue virus could only be transmitted through dengue mosquito bite whereas Congo virus could infect any person through contact with Congo patients' blood and secretions.
The officers of Livestock Department informed that with the help of local government anti-tics spray was being carried out in the cattle markets. They disclosed that spray was also being carried out on the sacrificial animals coming from Balochistan. Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik directed that guidelines regarding preventive measures and patient management be once again send to the all concerned for their reminder. He directed DG Health to arrange immediate training of doctors, nurses on Congo patient management by the co-operation of World Health Organisation (WHO) at Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan. He asked the Livestock Department that all the activities carried out by the Livestock officers should be verified. He further said that advertisements should also be published in the newspapers for creating awareness among the masses. He observed that prevention farms Congo virus was the basic responsibility of Livestock Department.