Health authorities in the northern Balkh Province have reported that two individuals have lost their lives to Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF). The victims were under medical treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital in the province.
Najibullah Tawana, the head of the Public Health Directorate in Balkh Province, shared the news on Saturday, further disclosing that ten confirmed cases of Congo fever have been identified over the past week.
According to him, two patients from northern Jowzjan and Faryab provinces have already succumbed to the disease.
As the Eid al-Adha holiday approaches, the head of the Public Health Directorate in Balkh is expressing concerns about a potential surge in the number of Congo fever cases. To tackle the situation, a specialized unit has been activated at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Balkh Province to provide treatment for Congo fever patients.
Health officials emphasize the need for blood donations, as individuals affected by the fever require substantial blood transfusions to aid in their recovery.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a surge in the cases of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in southern Kandahar province.
CCHF is a viral disease transmitted to humans through ticks and livestock. Health experts say that the cases of Congo disease increase every year during the Eid al-Adha in Afghanistan.
According to WHO, the lack of timely laboratory diagnosis, late detection, inadequate infection control practices at healthcare facilities, and weak vector control programs could also prolong outbreaks of hemorrhagic fevers.
To reduce the risk of infection in people, WHO recommends minimizing contact with animals and spraying them with medicine to prevent fever, as well as educating people about the dangers of the disease.
