KARACHI: Experts and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation health department has issued a advisory for the deadly Congo virus.
According to Senior Director Health Service Dr Muhammad Ali Abbasi, people should wear light colours while going to the cattle market, not for fashion but to protect themselves from Congo. Dr Abbasi urged parents not to take children while going to the cattle market.
It is advised that there should limited contact with the animals at the cattle market and gloves should be worn while inspecting the animals. People should not squeeze any tick with their bare hands as the infected blood can lead to being infected with the Congo virus.
Congo is a virus which lives on animal skin and is referred to as a tick. Animals with thick hair are at a higher risk of being infected with the virus.
When people enter to the cattle market they should cover their face, hands and frequently check their clothing and skin carefully for ticks. They should also be using insect repellents.
The focal person of Health Department Sindh Dr Zafar Mehdi said the initial signs and symptoms of Congo Hemorrhagic Fever are headache, high fever, body pain, red eyes, vomiting and there is no proper medication to cure the disease.
According to the KMC officials, Karachi's cattle market is Asia’s biggest market and every year thousands of animals from across Pakistan arrive here to be sold.