In the past two months, 36 instances of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever have been reported by doctors in the western province of Herat, Afghanistan, including five deaths.
The number of cases increased this year, according to Mohammad Asif Kabir, Deputy Public Health of Herat which has led to authorities’ concern about the spread of diseases, especially throughout Eid-ul-Adha.
People have been urged to take the required precautions before slaughtering animals the medical staff at the infectious disease department of the provincial hospital in Herat.
Earlier in Takhar province, three cases of Congo fever were reported, one of which resulted in patient death.
Officials said that 91 persons in Afghanistan had been infected with the disease the previous week, and seven people have passed away this summer.
“We are fully prepared because this disease is not new, and we have better measures in Takhar provincial hospital than in the past,” said Hayatullah Emami, director of Takhar Provincial Hospital.
A viral disease called Congo fever is frequently transmitted from animals to humans via ticks, especially during slaughter.
The disease’s primary symptoms are fever, heartburn, diarrhoea, internal and external bleeding, neck discomfort, and eye pain.
The virus can create epidemics, has a high case fatality rate (10–40%), can cause outbreaks in hospitals and other healthcare institutions, and is challenging to treat and prevent, making outbreaks of Congo fever a risk to public health services.
The US Centers for Disease Control advise people to butcher animals while wearing gloves and other protective equipment. The blood and bodily fluids of animals or people who exhibit illness symptoms should not be shared by individuals. Healthcare professionals must take the correct infection control procedures to avoid occupational exposure.
