The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a surge in the cases of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in southern Kandahar province.
WHO said its health workers have responded to the situation and are investigating the causes.
“In the last few days, we have trained 69 health workers from different hospitals in the southern region on CCHF case management and infection prevention and control,” the organization added.
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 haemorrhagic fevers.
Health experts recommend minimizing contact with animals and spraying them with medicine to prevent the fever, as well as educating people about the dangers of the disease.
