Health minister asks for precautionary measures against CCHF virus

KARACHI: Minister for Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has directed the Sindh Livestock Department (SLD) officials concerned to conduct insecticide spray on animals at check posts established at Sindh- Balochistan border to prevent the spread deadly Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus.

She issued these directives while chairing a joint meeting of SLD, Sindh Health Department, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and other stakeholders at her office at Sindh Secretariat on Tuesday.

Health Additional Chief Secretary Dr Muhammad Usman Chachar, Director General Dr Mubeen and KMC representatives and SLD officials were present in the meeting.

Pechuho instructed the Health Services Karachi director to compile the data of Congo patients admitted in Karachi hospitals on daily basis and submit a report to Sindh Data Surveillance Cell. She said data of 12 infectious diseases should be compiled on regular basis besides ensuring launching of public awareness drive in this regard.

She urged the livestock department to conduct insecticide spray in the city’s slaughterhouses on daily basis and issue necessary directives for butchers for taking preventive measures by handling cattle. She said the dream of health society could not come true until coordinated efforts from all the stakeholders.

Pechuho also instructed the Prevention and Control Programme for Dengue in Sindh programme manager to launch comprehensive drive across the Sindh province to control the prevalence of dengue.