In response to a concerning surge in cases of the novel Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), commonly known as the “Congo virus,” authorities in Balochistan have declared a “health emergency” in the province.
There have been 44 reported cases of the Congo virus, which is caused by a tick-borne virus called “Nairovirus” and transmitted through tick bites or infected animals’ blood. The disease leads to severe viral hemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate ranging from 10 to 40%.
The measures taken include the banning of private slaughterhouses in Quetta for two weeks under Section 144, with animals only allowed to be slaughtered in designated locations away from urban areas.
The provincial livestock department has been instructed to spray disinfectants in cattle markets. Preliminary evidence suggests that the virus spread from a patient in Harnai, leading to the sealing of the affected ward and disinfection of other departments.
Two healthcare workers affected by the Congo virus are being transferred to Karachi via air ambulance, and the doctor who succumbed to the virus is being honored as a martyr with benefits announced for his surviving family.
This year has witnessed a notable increase in Congo virus cases, with 41 patients admitted to the hospital and 17 fatalities, underscoring the urgency of the health emergency declaration in Balochistan.
