08 Nov 2023 | 01:25 PM UTC
Pakistan: Outbreak of CCHF reported in Balochistan province early November
Outbreak of CCHF reported in Balochistan province, Pakistan, early November. Avoid tick bites and livestock.
Health authorities have reported an outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Balochistan province, Pakistan, with more than 40 confirmed cases reported as of Nov. 4. Local authorities have declared a red alert after cases of CCHF have been reported in multiple health workers, with one being fatal. It is believed that the workers contracted CCHF while treating a patient who was admitted to Quetta’s Civil Hospital on Oct. 22. Local authorities have sealed the hospital’s affected ward and have imposed a two-week ban on private animal slaughter in public areas. This represents the most complete information available as of Nov. 8.
After being in areas where ticks may be present, bathe or shower as soon as possible and conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of the body. As weather permits, wear clothing that covers arms and legs. Wear socks and avoid wearing sandals. Use an insect repellent containing diethyl(meta)toluamide, known as DEET (around 35 percent), on clothing and exposed skin when outdoors. These precautions are especially important during the daytime. Contact a healthcare provider if a fever develops during or after being in Pakistan, especially if you remember being bitten by a tick.
The risk of CCHF infection exists nationwide in Pakistan, with the risk usually highest April-September. CCHF is caused by a virus that commonly infects wild and domestic animals (cattle, sheep, and goats), but may also infect humans. The disease is transmitted through the bite of a tick, or through contaminated tissue or blood from infected humans or animals. Once a human is infected, the disease can spread among people through close personal contact. CCHF can also infect healthcare workers who fail to diagnose the disease and institute proper precautions. CCHF fatality rates for patients requiring hospitalization can range from 9-50 percent. Early treatment with the antiviral agent ribavirin can reduce fatality rates.
