‘Congo virus presence likelier in animals coming from KP, Balochistan’

Karachi 

Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Muhammad Ali Malkani said on Thursday sacrificial animals being transported to Karachi from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are more suspected to be carrying the deadly Congo virus.

He was addressing a seminar on ways to prevent animals from being infected with Congo virus ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The seminar was organised by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

His remarks came amid concerns that several of the hundreds of thousands of sacrificial animals being brought to the city for Eidul-ul-Azha could be infected with the tick-born virus and could cause more deaths. 

Already this year, five people have died of the disease at government and private hospitals of the city, with three men losing their lives within as many weeks between July 30 and August 18.

In his address, the minister said a number of cases had been reported in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the virus could not be diagnosed easily and laboratory tests were necessary.  He said he was visiting various cattle markets in Karachi to create awareness among the people. 

Malkani admitted that vaccinating animals or spraying each vehicle bringing cattle into the city was not possible. However, for the purpose, a camp had been set up in Sohrab Goth, the entry point to the main city areas, he added. 

The minister said small animals were more prone to catching the disease. He added that once an animal was vaccinated, its flesh was not fit for human consumption for at least one month.

He said the government would soon announce the establishment of an advisory board for dealing with the problem. Earlier, experts told the seminar that Congo virus had spread from African nations and the virus could be found in both wild and domestic animals.

They urged the authorities to take stern measures against illegal cattle markets. They also asked the government to ensure vendors to take all prevention measures to avoid the spread of the virus.