KARACHI: Given the serious threat posed to public health this Eidul Azha on account of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) that has so far claimed at least 28 lives in the country, experts have suggested a number of ways that could help people fulfil their religious obligation safely.

The foremost effective step for CCHF prevention, according to experts, is the provision of abattoirs or designated places for animal sacrifice.

“Qurbani should be carried out in proper abattoirs or restricted places if we really want to prevent CCHF cases. There are hardly any cases of CCHF in Saudi Arabia although they have so many animals slaughtered during Haj.

“This is so because animal sacrifice is carried out at specific slaughterhouses and the carcasses are properly disposed of,” pointed out Dr Samreen Sarfaraz, an infectious disease consultant at the Indus Hospital.

According to her, the government should designate places for animal slaughter and discourage backyard qurbani practices as much as possible.

“CCHF cases are increasing every year and the reason behind this rise is that we don’t have any regulatory mechanism in place at any level.

“As a standard protocol, no animal should be sold on the roadside and there should be no slaughtering in homes or streets,” she reasoned.

The government, she noted, should promote the concept of “clean collective animal slaughter” as filthy conditions at abattoirs encourage zoonotic infections.

“When you see animals being herded in vehicles with people hanging on to the wretched animal, or men and animals crowded together on roadside stalls with no one wearing any protective clothing, it is practically impossible to expect containment of the Congo outbreak,” she observed.

Sharing some tips for safe animal sacrifice, Prof Masood Rabbani of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, said a separate, less frequented place with ample sunlight should be selected as ultraviolet rays are a quick natural germicide.

“Either one or a minimum number of family members (in case of a big animal) should be designated to help the butcher during sacrifice. “Few persons should be involved in handling animal and meat, and they must wear disposable caps, gloves, mask, plastic apron, waterproof footwear and protective clothing. Their nails must be clean and well-trimmed,” he observed.

Meat, he said, shouldn’t be handled if there is any cut or wounds on the hands or arms. Hand-washing was essential after animal and meat handling.

“Lay a large thick plastic sheet on the floor where meat is to be placed. Children should be kept away from the area where slaughtering is being done or meat is being handled,” he said.

For containment of disease, solid and liquid waste should be disposed of as early as possible. Large, thick plastic bags can be used to fill animal waste that should be later placed at proper designated government disposal sites.

“Or do burial at some landfill in rural or peri-urban setting,” he said.

If a fever starts within 14 days of being exposed to blood or tissues of a slaughtered animal, immediate medical support is required, experts conclude.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2016