KARACHI: Expressing concern over the increasing number of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) cases in the country and the resultant deaths, experts have called for the establishment of veterinary posts at provincial entry points to make sacrificial animals free of the deadly tick-borne virus.

According to media reports, Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh have reported eight, two and four deaths, respectively, from CCHF in recent months.

“It’s worrying to see deaths from CCHF and I believe that the virus is a major public threat this Eidul Azha, a time when animals arrive in city markets from different places in large numbers,” said Dr MS Jaffery, a senior veterinary surgeon.

He recommended the establishment of veterinary posts at provincial entry points to detect and curb the spread of the disease.

“I think this step should have been taken at least a month prior to Eid. However, it can still be done,” he said.

Referring to the treatment commonly applied abroad for making animals free of external parasites, he said that dipping and spraying methods had been found to be effective, which were part of regular cattle farm activities.

“In the dipping method, a bath is designed to immerse livestock in liquid pesticide. It is an efficient method to delivering pesticide or other liquid treatments to a large herd,” he pointed out, adding that such practices were apparently non-existent in the country.

Endorsing the idea of setting-up veterinary check-posts, dean of faculty of veterinary sciences, University of Veterinary Sciences, Lahore, Prof Masood Rabbani said animal inspection at provincial entry points was important to contain the Congo virus threat.

“Apparently, the Congo virus threat has emerged from animals coming from Afghanistan. So, there is a need for inspection and treatment at provincial entry points being used by a majority of transporters to bring animals,” he said.

According to him, the Punjab government has adopted this strategy and is actively pursuing it following the deaths from CCHF in the province. “The same strategy is needed to be adopted in other provinces.”

Apart from the spraying method, he said, an injectable medicine was available in the market for treating external and internal parasites. The same injectable was also being used for cattle management in the Gulf countries. “However, such treated animals should be slaughtered after at least eight days. Before that period, the meat may contain some residual effect of the medicine,” he explained, suggesting that if this medicine was injected into animals, its use should be discontinued 10 days before Eid.

Not all types of ticks were harmful to humans, he pointed out, adding that the hyalomma species was found to infect humans.

“Since it’s very rare, there is no need for panic. However, we do need precautionary measures in place,” he said.

To a question, he said animal-to-human transmission of the tick-borne Congo virus took place in 30pc cases. “It is a wrong perception that animals are the only source of transmission to humans. One can pick up the germ from a premises earlier used by animals carrying that tick. Usually, a tick leaves the host body after sucking its blood overnight. But, in filthy conditions, it may stay on the host body for unlimited amount of time.”

Taking care of hygiene, he pointed out, was vital for the well-being of animals and humans.

“Though there is a need to have a strategy to check the spread of zoonotic diseases (infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans) throughout the year, the occasion of Eidul Azha is a high-risk period and provincial governments need to take active measures to check the spread of infectious diseases,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2016