Lahore Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Principal and General Hospital Prof Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab has said that Congo fever is a fatal disease which can be avoided only by adopting precautionary measures. So far no anti-Congo vaccine has been discovered, therefore, one would have to be very careful while purchasing sacrificial animals on the coming Eid-ul-Azha ensuring that they do not have ticks in their hides.
The principal expressed these views while addressing a clinical symposium on awareness about Congo virus held today (Saturday) at the auditorium of PGMI. The symposium was also addressed by Dr Javed Asghar Magsi, Dr Muheen Qasim and Dr Razi Hyder Zaidi while a large number of doctors, nurses and general masses also attended the event.
He said that Congo virus is more lethal than cancer and it grows in the skin of goats and other such animals. “We must be very careful on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, taking maximum preventive measures while dealing with sacrificial animals,” he said, and added, “Congo virus is the inhabitant of African countries which is created from ticks living in the skins of goats, cows, buffalos and camels. These ticks live on the blood of these animals.”
The patient of Congo virus suffers from nuisance, fever, hunger, weakness and swelling of eyes, he said. He or she also falls short of white cells immediately and starts bleeding which causes death, he explained. He said that Congo virus is a rapidly spreading disease all over the world so “we should be very careful about it.”
