Seminar on Congo fever

LAHORE: A virtual awareness seminar on “Zoonotic Potential of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and its Public Health Significance” was held on the eve of Eidul Azha on Saturday.

According to a press release, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) in collaboration with Punjab Health Department organised the seminar.

While addressing the event, UVAS Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Rabbani said that the risk of CCHF increased on the eve of Eidul Azha, particularly during the summer season and such seminars were important to create awareness among the public.

He urged that public should take appropriate precautions especially while visiting cattle markets and subsequently handling the animals till slaughtering. He said that CCHF was a public health concern that needed to be tackled through a one health approach where veterinarians and medical professionals needed to collaborate for preparing and implementing a joint strategy to prevent any possible disease outbreak.

Dr Furqan Shahid from UVAS briefed the audience on the current status of CCHF virus in Punjab while Dr Khushal Khan Kasi, a senior veterinary officer, Livestock Department,

Balochistan, discussed the possible surge of CCHF and risks which could be faced during Eid festival. He also stressed the need for the one health approach to control the problem. Dr Somia Iqtadar, associate professor of medicine, KEMU, talked about the effect of CCHF virus on human health. Lahore District Health Authority (DHA) CEO Dr Pervez Iqbal also spoke on the occasion.