PMA Expresses Concern Over the Rise in Congo Cases

KARACHI- Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) expresses its concern about the increasing number of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) cases,  across Pakistan.

The number of cases have a high probability of further increasing, as Eid-ul-Azha is around the corner and people are frequently getting in contact with sacrificial animals, putting themselves at risk.

Secretary General, PMA (Centre), Dr. SM Qaisar Sajjad stated that, while purchasing or handling animals, one should wear full sleeved, light colored clothes, along with socks and proper closed shoes. They are requested to apply insect repellents on the exposed areas of the body, to intently inspect themselves for ticks and to bathe immediately after coming from cattle markets.

Furthermore, he added a few pointers to take into notice during slaughtering the animal; one should wear gloves and cover their mouth and nose with a mask. Hands must be thoroughly washed immediately after removing gloves. Keep animal pelt separately in plastic sheets as they may have ticks, and do not dispose of animal waste or blood on the street.

Avoid contact with humans who have contracted the virus.

Moving onto symptoms, he said that, in case of high fever, muscle ache, backache, headache, vomiting, severe bruising and nosebleeds, immediately see your physician and initiate treatment.

PMA strongly feels its responsibility to guide the people, to avoid the risk of Congo Virus.

This lethal virus is spread by the bite of ticks, which have already fed on an infected animal or from exposure to blood or tissues during or immediately after slaughtering an infected animal or, from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people.

People like animal herders, butchers, livestock workers, any person in contact with livestock animals and any person in contact with an infected person are at huge risk.