ISLAMABAD, Nov 26: The federal health authorities are on a high alert after the reported outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Karachi and are maintaining a continuous contact with the provincial health department, Secretary Health Anwar Mehmood told Dawn on Saturday.

Hospitals in Karachi were put on alert on Friday after CCHF was confirmed to have killed five people including a lady doctor in six weeks and infecting over 40.

“We are maintaining a close contact with the Sindh health department by monitoring on-ground situation and suggesting technical advice or providing assistance if required,” he said.

Following reports of the CCHF cases in Karachi, the Sindh health authorities have been asked to maintain active surveillance, Anwar Mehmood said adding that any suspected case should be kept under observation for two weeks while the clinically suspected cases should be treated immediately with anti-viral (Ribavirin).

The provincial authorities have also been asked to educate people about prevention and control of the CCHF with special focus on butchers and animal handlers.

Health experts have also warned the paramedics to take extra care while treating patients and should insist on the history of a patient before treating because CCHF symptoms are quite similar to that of common flu.

The CCHF is one of the most severe human viral diseases known to mankind and patients with this killer disease suffers from headache, muscular pain, vomiting, massive bleeding through nose, mouth and ears and in internal organs.

Prof K A Karamat, executive director of the National Institute of Health (NIH) said, adoption of strict bio-safety measures by the medical and paramedical staff was necessary to avoid any possible infection while safe burial in case of death of a CCHF patient was imperative.

Dr Birjees Mazhar Kazi, chief Public Health Laboratories Division of NIH said, the updated guidelines developed by the institute have been disseminated to the relevant professionals while the NIH was prepared to provide all sorts of technical guidance regarding prevention and control of the deadly disease.

So far, 200 cases of CCHF have been reported from 1976 to till date out of which 63 people had expired with 30 per cent mortality rate. The first case was reported in 1976 in Chaqhi and Loralai (Balochistan) where three more people again died in 2004.