NIH issues advisory for Congo fever, sunstroke

Islamabad: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued advisories on Congo fever and heat wave, sunstroke.

The advisories were issued to the relevant health institutions to take timely and appropriate measures to prevent diseases.

The advisory also targeted Congo fever, which is a disease caused by a specific type of virus (neuro-virus) and is found in ticks (a type of worm) hidden in the hair of several animals, such as goats, sheep, and rabbits.

The virus is transmitted to humans through tick bites, during animal slaughter, and immediately after that through the blood or tissues of infected animals.

The virus can also be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person. 61 cases of this disease have been reported in Pakistan in 2024.

The public has been instructed to wear light-colored clothes so that ticks on clothes can be easily detected. If ticks are present on the skin or clothes, remove them safely. Avoid going to areas where ticks are abundant.

The advisories on heat waves and sunstroke state that like the rest of the world, Pakistan is facing severe climate change due to global warming, including heat waves. The risks and effects of heat waves are increasing in the country every year. As a result, illness and deaths due to heat stroke may increase.

The precautionary measures stated that avoiding direct sunlight and dehydration can prevent complications of heat stroke.