Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

: Written by: Mohammad Arif Rahimi                  

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever that spreads through a tick bite was common in some other countries but in later years. This disease is spread in Afghanistan too. 

According to the information, provided by the ministry of health of Afghanistan, about 72 persons are affected by Congo fever which 12 of them have lost their lives.

The writer/producer AEPO has talked to some patients and a physician in Contagious Diseases Hospital in Kabul city about this disease.

Ameer Khan, a resident of Kabul city says:

I am butcher and slaughter cattle. One day, a tick attached to my ear. some days later, I became sick, and when I came to the hospital, the doctors said that I have gotten Congo fever.

Ameer Khan adds:

At the beginning, I had fever and vomiting, later I got body pain and nose bleeding too.

Doctor Faridullah Omari says:

Congo fever has four stages:

1: a headache, body and joints pains.

2: a severe headache, high fever, stomach ache, diarrhea, and vomiting.

3: nose and mouth bleeding; changing feces' color into black; bleeding under the skin.

4: increase in hair loss and heartbeats.

The Congo virus is found in some cattle. If Congo tick bites a person, its virus enters into his/her blood system and the person becomes ill.

Eating the meat of infected animal also causes Congo fever.

Prevention:

Bucher should use gloves and cover his face and nose with a mask during slaughtering cattle and those who want to visit Congo patients, should wear special clothes and do not touch the patients.

Avoid eating any kind of meats before washing - and cooking well.