By Our Special Correspondent
KARACHI - Experts at a seminar titled “Emerging Threat of Congo Virus Infection and Eidul Azha” called for taking preventive measures against Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) by creating awareness among masses about the dreaded viral infection through media, besides ensuring screening of sacrificial animals at all entry points of the city.
They also advised the general public not to get panicky with the threats of Congo virus infection, but must wear protecting apparels during their visits to bakra pirri (cattle markets), wear long gloves while slaughtering animals and disinfect the animals’ remnants with simple bleach.
The seminar was organized by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry’s (FPCCI) senior vice president Shaikh Khalid Tawab, chairman FPCCI’s Sindh Regional Committee on Laboratories & Diagnostic Services Dr Farhan Essa Abdullah in collaboration with American Society for Microbiology and Pakistan Society for Microbiology.
Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Mohammad Ali Malkani was chief guest at the seminar and the experts who spoke on the occasion included eminent microbiologist and Rector-Vice Chancellor of Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education, Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi; Head of Liaquat National Hospital’s (LNH) Microbiology department Dr Sana Anwar; Dengue consultant and pest control expert Sajjad Haider Dara, Sindh Livestock department’s senior veterinary officer Syed Noman Ali and Dr Farhan Essa Abdullah. The FPCCI’s auditorium hall was jam-packed with the students of Karachi University, Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education and people belonging to different walks of life.
The experts also urged doctors, paramedical staff, nurses and laboratory technicians to always use personal protective equipment (EPP) while dealing with the patients of Congo virus, their blood samples and tissues, etc.
Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Mohammad Ali Malkani said that he has directed officials of his department to set up camps at all the entry points of the city where animals will be sprayed so as to ensure that no CCHF-infected animal could enter the city’s sacrificial market.
He also informed that the provincial health department has already launched an awareness campaign through advertisements in the media and whereby people were being apprised about preventive measures vis-à-vis the Congo virus.
FPCCI’s vice chairman Zulfiqar Ali Shaikh presented the welcome address while Dr Farhan Essa Abdullah gave vote of thanks.