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Eid ul Adha: NIH issues advisory on Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

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2 years ago

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  • Advisories issued to sensitise human,animal healthcare authorities.
  • NIH says taking necessary steps to stop spread of disease crucial. 
  • Naegleria mostly occurs during hot summer months.

ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an advisory on the prevention and control of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), Naegleriasis.

According to NIH, the institute’s Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division (FEDSD) issued advisories with the purpose to sensitise human and animal healthcare authorities to further strengthen and improve the level of preparedness in the prevention and control of CCHF and Naegleriasis.

In the wake of high disease transmission and risk due to anticipated increased human-animal interaction during the upcoming Eid ul Adha, it is imperative to be vigilant about the situation and take necessary steps to interrupt the transmission of CCHF.

CCHF is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family.

Numerous wild and domestic animals, such as cattle, goats, sheep and hares are carriers of this virus.

The CCHF virus is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter.

Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected ticks or animal blood.

CCHF can be transmitted from an infected person to another person by contact with infectious blood, secretions, or body fluids.

According to the advisory, this year, Balochistan has reported 81 and KP reported three suspected cases, out of which 27 were positive from Balochistan, including five deaths up to June 2023. There is currently no vaccine available for humans and the only way to reduce infection is by raising awareness.

As per the advisory, the public health advice should focus on several aspects, including wearing protective clothing (long sleeves, long trousers), wearing light-coloured clothing to allow easy detection of ticks on the clothes and using approved insect repellent on the skin.

Insect repellents are the most effective in warding off ticks in human populations besides avoiding visiting areas where ticks are abundant and seasons when they are most active.

Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba, (also known as brain-eating amoeba) is a single-celled, thermophilic, free-living pathogen found widely in freshwater environments like warm bodies of fresh water, such as lakes, rivers, hot springs and even in the soil.

Despite lower incidence, the PAM disease is also widely distributed in tropical areas and mostly occurs during hot summer months.

Most cases of PAM arise from freshwater sources like lakes and pools, but an increasing number are now linked to drinking water systems.

Deaths related to PAM have been regularly reported from Karachi and some other parts of the country since 2008. With three recently reported cases in 2023, the total count of cases has climbed up to 150 in the country during the last 14 years.

The NIH recommended that during recreational activities like swimming, avoid diving and getting water up in the nose, try to avoid water-related activities when the water is not chlorinated, empty and clean small collapsible bathing pools daily, ensure swimming pools and spas are adequately chlorinated and well maintained, avoid jumping or diving into bodies of warm freshwater, avoid putting head under water in hot springs and other untreated geothermal waters and if using un-chlorinated water, don’t allow water to go up in nose when bathing, showering or washing the face.

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FO admits that a boat capsized in Greece, killing four Pakistanis.

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The deaths of four Pakistanis in a boat capsizing event close to the southern Greek island of Goudos have been verified by the Foreign Office.

The incident happened on Sunday and at least five illegal immigrants drowned as a result. According to Greek Coast Guards, 39 people were rescued after the wooden boat overturned, but 40 more are still unaccounted for.

According to a Foreign Office spokeswoman, the four Pakistani nationals were among those killed in the catastrophe. In order to help the remaining Pakistanis and repatriate the corpses of the deceased, the Pakistani Embassy in Athens has been in close communication with Greek authorities, she said.

Additional information was given by Aamir Aftab Qureshi, Pakistan’s ambassador to Greece, during a press conference. According to him, there were 80 Pakistanis on board the doomed boat, and efforts are still being made to find the people who are still missing.

He added that the overcrowding on the boat was a factor in the capsizing. There are worries over the safety of the missing people because a sizable portion of them are children. He stated that five boats carrying Pakistani nationals were traveling illegally from Libya.

The public was also informed by Ambassador Qureshi that the government will pay for the return flight of the accident victims’ bodies.

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Every office will have a biometric system installed by Lesco.

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2 weeks ago

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system in each office.

Details show that the LESCO had ordered the installation of biometric systems in all offices, including the divisions and the circle.

The installation of the biometric system at the headquarters resulted in an increase in attendance, as the LESCO CEO had stated.

The CEO of LESCO claimed that the biometric system has resolved the issues related to the fictitious overtime and off-days.

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Around 450 Pakistanis have successfully crossed into Lebanon from Syria, according to a briefing from the Foreign Office.

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2 weeks ago

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Approximately 450 Pakistanis, including 250 Zaireen, have successfully crossed into Lebanon from Syria, according to the spokesperson for the Foreign Office, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.

During her weekly briefing at the foreign office in Islamabad, she stated that Pakistan is pleased with the resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly on the Gaza Strip, which calls for an immediate ceasefire.

In addition, she expressed her satisfaction with the elimination of limits placed on UNRWA’s ability to carry out relief activities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

It was stated by her that Pakistan is demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Palestine, an end to the genocide that is taking place in Gaza, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid for those who are in urgent need, full support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and its mandated humanitarian activities, and medical assistance for those who are in urgent need.

Moreover, she stated that Pakistan emphasises the need for the international community to hold Israel accountable for the war crimes and crimes against humanity that it has committed in occupied lands.

The Israeli aggression against Syria, the illegitimate acquisition of Syrian territory, and the massive devastation of Syrian infrastructure as well as civilian and military sites are all topics that Pakistan is extremely worried about, according to the spokesperson for Pakistan.

According to her, this attack on Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is a serious violation of international law to the highest degree. By expressing our support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we are also expressing our opposition to the Israeli government’s attempt to acquire territory through coercion.

The resolution 497 of the United Nations Security Council, which declares the annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel to be null and illegal and to have no international legal impact, was reaffirmed by her organisation.

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