ISL AMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has issued advisories to federal and provincial health departments for taking preventative measures against the spread of the Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).

This comes after several cases of the fever were reported in the last few months and in anticipation of the expected movement of a large number of animals ahead of Eidul Azha.

Statistics from previous years indicate an increase in the number of cases from May to October.

The NHS advisory says CCHF is a viral infection caused by the bite of a tick andthat the mortality rate of the disease is between 10pc and 50pc.

According to the advisory, animal herders, livestock worl(ers and slaughterhouse workers are at the rislc of contracting the fever. Special measures have been recommended for physicians and laboratories as well.

It says care should be taken during assessment and sample collection as the symptoms of dengue and CCHF are very similar. Samples should be collected by trained staff which can ensure their own and environmental protection as well as safe disposal of laboratory waste.

Laboratory diagnosis of CCHF is costly and should therefore be sent after careful evaluation. Laboratories have been advised to observe the International AirTransport Association regulations for transportation and to pack the sample in triple packaging.

The advisory also steps for the elimination of ticks in animals. It says it should be ensured that sacrificial animals do not have ticks and that insect repellents are the most effective for warding off the ticks.

It recommends dusting powdered medicine via a puff duster on animals and if the infestation is particularly heavy, animal sheds should be sprayed at regular intervals of four to five weeks.

Samples received at NIH for testing According to an NIH document available with Dawn, 142 samples were received at the institute of which 13 were foundpositive and four are being tested.

Of these, nine samples were sent in to be tested for CCHF from hospitals around Islamabad and two of these were found positive. Meanwhile, 100 samples were received from hospitals across Punjab of which six were positive. Eight samples were from Sindh which were all negative.

Five of the 24 samples sent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were found positive. Just one sample was sent in from Balochistan which was negative.

The Aga Khan University Hospital also received 38 samples of which 22 were declared positive.

NHS Secretary Ayub Sheikh said the ministry was closely examining the situation and that the health departments had been asked to remain on a high alert.