ISLAMABAD: Pakistan seems to be moving towards a sixth wave of Covid-19 after a gap of more than four months, as the country reported nine deaths on Thursday.

Moreover, 872 infections were reported. However, the national positivity rate, which had been more than four per cent for the last one week, dropped to 3.77pc as the number of tests carried out increased by 30pc.

However, unlike previous waves which were countered by smart lockdowns and a strict adherence to SOPs in public spaces, cities across the country still seem devoid of any such preventive measures. Transport hubs such as train and bus stations are also becoming increasingly crowded as citizens head to their homes for the Eid holidays, raising concerns that these may become epicentres for super-spreader events.

Data from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed that nine people succumbed to the virus. Earlier, more than nine deaths were last reported on March 4.

NIH asks people to properly wash, buy only healthy-looking sacrificial animals amid Congo virus spread

The data further showed that the number of daily Covid tests, which were previously at a little over 15,000, had increased to 23,125. Owing to an increase in testing, the positivity rate across Pakistan remained less than 7pc as Karachi topped the chart with 6.49pc.

Professor of Microbiology Javaid Usman told Dawn that though the NCOC had not officially declared a sixth wave of pandemic, it was a fact that cases were on the rise in Pakistan and across the globe.

“The reason is that bans on international travel have been lifted. Currently Omicron’s sub-variant BA-5 has been spreading globally but the good thing is that it is only a bronchitis infection and not converting into pneumonia. Moreover, there are fewer hospitalisations and deaths are due to comorbidity rather than only due to virus,” he said.

Bronchitis is an infection of the main airways of the lungs, causing them to become irritated and inflamed. Comorbidity means suffering with more than one disease at the same time such as diabetes, blood pressure and heart problem, etc.

Advisory on Congo fever

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has also issued an advisory for prevention and protection of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), also known as Congo fever and transmitted by a dangerous type of Norovirus.

Found in ticks that hide in the hair of sheep, goats, cows, buffaloes and other cattle, an NIH statement said that while no vaccine for Congo fever was available so far, the disease can be avoided by taking following precautionary measures.

“Before buying a sacrificial animal, people should be sure that there are no ticks on body of animal, use gloves or apply Deet lotion when checking the animal, prevent children from playing with animals, use pesticides in consultation with livestock department to protect animals from the ticks,” it stated.

The advisory said that butchers should use gloves when slaughtering animals and making meat, they should protect themselves from being contaminated with animal blood and carefully treat flesh blood and impurities.

People are also suggested to use gloves while washing sacrificial meat and doctors and other medical staff should also ensure the use of personal preventive measures such as gloves and masks while treating a Congo patient.

The livestock departments have been instructed to ensure spraying of the cattle markets and vaccination of sacrificial animals.

Dr Usman said people should be concerned about the CCHF but not worried. “It is not a new disease, it surfaces after every four to five years and does not take many lives. If an animal apparently looks healthy, people can buy it without any hesitation. Goats have smooth skin so they have less chances of having ticks. People should wash the goat with a shampoo or any detergent and after that they can keep the animals at their houses,” he said.

“People should learn about the CCHF because if there will be more ignorance there will be more hype. Every year, on Eidul Azha, millions of animals are brought in the markets and sold. It is not possible for the government to check each animal so people just have to wash the animals and then they can allow their children to play with them,” he said.

CCHF cases surfaced in Pakistan around July 2016 in Bahawalpur after surgeon at the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) surgeon died of the disease despite being shifted to Karachi for treatment. After that, other cases were reported from various parts of the country.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2022