LAHORE - The menace of dengue continued to haunt people as five more were tested positive for the deadly virus on Tuesday, taking the number of confirmed cases in the province to 88.
Ameer Hamza, 21, Anwar, 15, Salma Asghar, 40, Umar, 15, and Haji Arshad, 40, were tested positive for dengue at Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi.
Health adviser for anti-Congo fever plan: In the wake of large scale movement of sacrificial animals on the eve of Eidul Azha, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh Salman Rafiq has directed the Health Department and the Livestock Department to devise a joint strategy to control Congo fever.
Chairing a joint meeting of officers of Punjab Health Department and Livestock Department at Civil Secretariat on Tuesday, Kh Salman directed spray in cattle markets and sale points set up by the district governments.  Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik, Director General Health Punjab Dr Zahid Pervaiz, Additional Secretary Health (Technical) Dr Salman Shahid, Director Health CDC Dr Ahmed Afifi, EDO Health Lahore Dr Zulfiqar Ali and officers of Livestock Department attended the meeting.
Dr Ahmed Afifi said that Congo fever spread through tics which were common on the skin of sheep and cows. He further said that Congo virus could also infect a person on contact with the blood and other secretions of animals. He said that mostly farmers of livestock farms, workers of animal markets were more vulnerable to Congo virus. However, he said, doctors, nurses and paramedics who treat Congo fever patients were also at a risk, therefore precautionary measures should be adopted.
Dr Zahid Pervaiz said that the hospital staff and attendants engaged in the treatment of Congo fever patient were at risk, therefore, they should take all precautionary measures. He said that Health Department has issued necessary guidelines to the principals of medical colleges and medical superintendents of government hospitals regarding patient handling. Moreover, self-protection kits have also been provided to the health facilities.
Dr Somia Iqtidar said that the symptoms of Congo fever and dengue were similar.
However, dengue virus could only be transmitted through mosquito bite whereas Congo virus could infect any person through contact with Congo patients’ blood and secretions.
The officers of Livestock Department informed that with the help of local government anti-tics spray has been carried out in the cattle markets. They said that spray was also carried out on the sacrificial animals coming from Balochistan.