Precautionary steps urged while handling sacrificial animals

Islamabad: Following precautionary measures is a must to avoid incidence of the deadly infection — Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever — while handling sacrificial animals on and before the festive occasion of Eidul Azha as the tick-borne viral disease kills 30-40% of the infected individuals.
Health experts are of the view that an outbreak of CCHF cannot be ruled out at a time when a large number of sacrificial animals is being brought to town from far-flung areas of the country ahead of Eidul Azha and a big chunk of them might not be brought here after proper handling and surveillance.
The CDA Health Directorate is taking special measures to avoid incidence of CCHF, however, the most important thing is to create awareness among public on measures needed to avoid the infection, said CDA Health Directorate Director Dr. Hasan Orooj while talking to ‘The News’ on Tuesday.
He said alert has already been issued to almost all hospitals operating in the federal capital and the health directorate would distribute pamphlets among visitors in sacrificial animal markets set up in town.
The most important precautionary measure, however, is to convince people that they must ensure examination of animals from a qualified veterinary doctor in case of any type of ticks on their skin so that transmission of CCHF to human beings can be avoided, said Dr. Orooj.
He said people should not buy unhealthy sacrificial animals and should handle sacrificial animals properly and keep skins of the animals free from any type of ticks.
Studies reveal that the CCHF is caused by Nairovirus of the Bunyaviridae family transmitted to humans by the bite of Hyalomma tick that is mostly found on the skin of animals both wild and domestic animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. The CCHF is also caused by direct contact with the blood of an infected animal or human. Exposure to blood or tissue of the infected animal during or post slaughtering and direct contact with blood or secretions of infected person may also cause transmission. The case fatality rate of the deadly infection ranges from two percent to 50 per cent however it is generally assumed from 30 to 40 per cent with death occurring in the second week of illness. The CCHF was first described in Crimea in 1944 and identified in 1956 in Congo.
Medically, a confirmed patient of the infection is an important source of exposure for other people, particularly family members and healthcare workers and even a single confirmed case can cause spread leading to an outbreak of the infection. The severity of the infection can be gauged by one preventive measure only that to avoid spread of the infection, the transport vehicle that carry a confirmed patient or his dead body is needed to be disinfected by spraying 1:10 liquid bleach solution on any surfaces touching the body and all clothing of the deceased must be burnt.
It is worth mention here that for the last many years, significant number of cases of the deadly infection is reported in scattered areas of the country mainly because of improper handling of sacrificial animals that have ticks on their skin. On average, well over 40 cases of the infection are reported every year in the country.
Sporadic cases of CCHF are reported round the year from various parts of the country including Rawalpindi, Attock, Peshawar, and Mansehra however almost all cases of the infection reported in the country have been found to be persons who have been in the profession of animal handling or domestic cattle keeping, said Assistant District Health Officer at ICT Health Department Dr. Muhammad Najeeb Durrani while talking to ‘The News’.
He said a person must visit the nearest hospital immediately after developing any of the signs and symptoms of the infection. Onset of symptoms is sudden, with fever, muscle ache, dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache, sore eyes and sensitivity to light. There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion. Other signs include a faster heart rate, a rash, enlarged lymph nodes and liver and kidney failure, he said. He added studies reveal that more than one third of the infected persons die within the second week of illness.
To a query, Dr. Durrani said although the risk is greater, there have not been any significant rise in cases and deaths due to Congo fever on or before Eidul Azha in the past years.
There may be sporadic cases as per disease incidence and its regular endemic pattern but as such no outbreak has ever been reported associated with animal slaughtering during Eid festival, however, still the individuals should take all possible protective measures while observing the great ritual, he said.