Congo fever claims 114 lives in about 8 months: MoPH

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) says more than 1,200 people contracted Congo fever during the past about eight months, with 114 of them losing their lives.

Dr. Fakhruddin, in charge of zoonotic diseases at MoPH, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the total number of people infected with Congo fever had reached 1,214 and the number of deaths from the disease surged to 114 in nearly eight months.

Most of the cases were registered in Kabul, Herat, Kandahar, Balkh, Nangarhar and Jawzjan provinces and other provinces also witnessed positive Congo fever cases.

According to him, still five months remains in the current solar year and the number infected people may increase until the end of the year.

Fakhruddin said according to available statistics, the number of Congo patients increased more than three times this year compared to the previous year.

Not following Ministry of Public Health’s recommendations is believed to be the main cause of the increase in the number of Congo fever patients.

He advised citizens, especially women, to use masks and gloves while cutting and cooking meat and wash their hands with soap and water afterwards.

He advised: “If our citizens have symptoms of Congo disease or hemorrhagic fever, they should go to health centers as soon as possible to prevent the spread of this disease.”

He says the government should allocate a specific budget to fight the Congo disease and the Ministry of Agriculture should cooperate with MoPH.

Meanwhile, Dr. Faridullah Omari, a specialist at the Antani Hospital in Kabul city, told Pajhwok that the number of people suffering from Congo fever was increasing and currently four patients were admitted in their hospital.

He added: “Compared to the previous years, the number of Congo fever patients has increased and is on the increase and we always have such patients and their number increases between spring and autumn, especially after Eidul Adha.”

According to doctors, Congo hemorrhagic fever is a deadly microbial (viral) disease that is transmitted to humans through tick bites.

Severe fever, headache, muscle pain, stiff neck, back pain, red eyes, fear of light, which is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea are initial symptoms of this disease.

sa/ma

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