Congo Fever is caused by bite of an infected tick when an infected tick having virus bites an animal usually goat sheep or cattle. The animal gets infected by developing fever having virus in its blood. At that point in time while the virus is circulating in blood of that anima when it is slaughtered the person slaughtering the animal gets infected or the animal handler coming in close contact with the infected animal.
Person slaughtering the animal or living in close contact with infected animal develops fever as the congo fever virus circulates in his blood, his platelets get depleted and later his blood oozes out in his skin, from gums and nose.
Then comes the most dreadly feature as the Index case is usually only one but disease goes on spreading person to person. Its human to human transmission is the most deeadly feature. Any person may be patient’s attendant or health care provider gets the virus inadvertently mostly on his hands and takes to ingest by touching his own mouth, eyes or nose.
The virus in this Secondary Infection start rapidly multiplying in the new host. This mode of transmission is called nasocomial transmission. Every person attending the patient is at risk what is needed is to establish and develop Infection Control Protocols in all healt care settings. We must understand the only measure to stop the spread of disease is by Barrier Nursing and basic biosafety measures.
The drug of choice is available called Ribavirin. Its a blessing of Allah Almighty. Its given in a loading dose then sustained for a week. While the suspected persons i.e., attendants and health care providers are monitored for develping fever and if they develop fever then admitted to hospitals for test and immediate response.
Creamin Congo Haemorrhageic Fever was first appeared Creamin (Russia) and Congo (Africa) at the same time therefore its called Creamin Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).
In Pakistan it was reported diagnosed and confirmed in Pakistan in 1973 when a Surgeon named Dr Mateen in Rawalpindi got infected while operating a patient infected with congo virus.
This virus was identified in National Institute of Health by a virologist General Burni, the then Executive Director of NIH.
A laboratory meeting all international biosafety levels is needed to test this virus. In Pakistan only NIH enjoys this BSL-3 status. The required blood samples from the suspected patients must be taken by a trained lab attendant and transported to laboratory in a highly safe tripple packing in a carrier reserved for transporting highly contagious material with label.
The cattle and sheep come to Pakistan from Afghanistan in search of green pastures in winter to avoid sever winter of Afghanistan. These cattle cross over borders to reach green areas of Pakistan and reach upto Punjab. Then with the advent of summer they leave Pakistan to reach back home in Afghanistan where weather is favourable for their growth.
It is during this migration that the cattle and sheep carrying infected ticks on their body transmit the same to local sheep and cattle in Pakistan. The disease is endemic in Balochistan in regions having borders with Afghanistan i.e., Loralai Qila Abdullah Chaman and Zhob. While its cases are also being reported from Karachi, Meerpur AJK, Peshawar Multan and Attock. However the CHF has an infrequent incidental appearance that can appear any where. Most at risk are animal handlers and the health care providers.
Health Departments and Hospitals must create awareness amongst its employees, particularly the health care providers to know the importance of barrier nursing and biosafety protocols.
