Vigilance needed to avoid incidences of CCHF while handling cattle

Rawalpindi : Incidences of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, a deadly infection, cannot be ruled out at the time when a huge number of cattle, sacrificial animals, are being brought to town from far flung areas of the country ahead of Eidul Azha and a big number of them might not be taken here after proper handling and surveillance.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever that was first described in Crimea in 1944 and identified in 1956 in Congo is zoonotic, a disease that animals cause to humans. The CCHF is caused by Nairovirus of the Bunyaviridae family transmitted to humans by the bite of Hyalomma tick found on the skin of animals including cattle, goat and sheep or by direct contact with the blood of an infected animal or human and that is why its incidence is anticipated every year on or before Eidul Azha, at the time of mass handling of cattle.

The Ixodid (hard) ticks, especially those of the genus Hyalomma, are both a reservoir and a vector for the CCHF virus. Animals, such as cattle, goats or sheep become infected by the bite of infected ticks and the virus remains in their bloodstream for about one week after infection, allowing the tick-animal-tick cycle to continue when another tick bites.

It is important that the CCHF outbreaks constitute a threat to public health as the virus can lead to epidemics, has a high case fatality ratio (10–40%), potentially results in hospital and health facility outbreaks, and is difficult to prevent and treat.

Health experts say that the sacrificial animals being brought to the region for sale may carry the ticks causing CCHF if proper preventive measures are not taken well in time. It is therefore suggested that all the concerned departments including health department, agriculture and livestock departments and tehsil municipal administrations should plan to carry out necessary preventive activities to avoid incidences or a possible outbreak of the deadly infection.

Since the diagnosis of the first human cases of CCHF in 1976, sporadic cases have continued to occur across Pakistan. Although Balochistan remains the most affected province yet cases have been reported from almost all geographical regions of the country.

Last year, from May to July, the CCHF had claimed at least four lives here at Benazir Bhutto Hospital in town. CCHF is a viral hemorrhagic fever transmitted to humans by bite of ticks; usually from infected sheep, goat or cows, exposure to the blood or tissue of the infected animal during or post slaughtering and direct contact with blood or secretions of the infected person.

The most important preventive measure is to handle sacrificial animals properly and keep skins of the animals free from any type of ticks. Sacrificial animals being taken to house, if having any type of ticks on their skin should be given a thorough bath with water carrying DEET or Potassium Permanganate.

Experts suggest that people should reduce tick infestation on cows, sheep and goats with the help of insecticides. Acaricides, the pesticides that kill ticks and mites may be useful on domestic animals and insecticidal sprays must be ensured in the cattle markets, slaughter houses, dairy, Gawala colonies, sacrificial animals’ sale yards and other animal gathering places. Also insect repellents containing DEET are effective in protecting against ticks.

It is suggested that people should wear protective clothing when working with livestock and take measures for early and correct removal of ticks. People should ensure examination of diseased animals from veterinary doctors so that transmission of CCHF to human beings could be avoided.

The signs and symptoms of CCHF appear 1-9 days after infection which include sudden onset of illness with high grade fever over 38.50C for more than 72 hours. The fever is usually associated with headache, muscle pains and bleeding manifestations such as petechial or purpuric rash, bleeding from nose, mouth, gum bleeding, vomiting of blood, and blood in stools.