Oman- MoAF confirms CCHF death takes steps to control spread of virus

2/22/2016 3:45:36 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) has refuted rumours on social media about the spread of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Buraimi.

However it has confirmed the death of one Omani due to this infection and has said that measures are being taken to control its spread. Details of how the man got the CCHF virus are not known.

Unconfirmed reports suggested it was after he bought goats from a livestock farm in Buraimi. The immediate action taken after the death was to spray insecticides on the farm said Ali bin Awadh al Yaqoubi director of Agriculture and Livestock in Buraimi. Yaqoubi told Oman TV that the quarantined farm will be closed for 14 days.

'Samples from the farm have been sent to the Animal Health Research Centre Laboratory to determine if it has indeed been infected by CCHF' he added. Veterinary authorities are constantly working in the governorate to spread awareness about CCHF.

Yaqoubi cautioned against spreading rumours and called on people to receive information from official sources. MoAF and the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources are taking steps to create awareness on the issue. CCHF is carried by ticks and is endemic to Oman. It does not cause any symptoms in animals and is transmitted through tick bites or direct contact with the infected animal's blood often through slaughtered animals.

'So to prevent the spread of the disease it is advisable to slaughter animals at municipal slaughterhouses where vets perform ante-mortem and post-mortem examinations' MoAF stated.

According to MoAF 14 CCHF cases were reported in 2014 ten came to light in 2013 and three tested positive in 2012. Apart from these three cases were recorded in 1995 and one in 1996. After six cases of CCHF - including a death - were reported from the sultanate during Eid al Adha alone in 2014 authorities have been taking preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease. MoAF has tightened quarantine measures and procedures for live animals to make sure they are free of ticks and other external parasites.

'Necessary samples are taken and sent to the central laboratory for tests and animals are released from quarantine only after making sure they are free of ticks or any other diseases' the ministry said in a statement. The ministry also collects random samples from farms and barns for testing.

'A large scale pesticide spraying schedule has been drawn out wherein barn animals are sprayed and spraying machines and equipment are provided to farm owners' MoAF added.

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