Congo fever outbreak in state doubles this year

The outbreaks of Congo fever seems to have doubled in Gujarat,the first state to have reported the prevalence of tick-borne viral disease in the country. In the last three years alone,there have been 30 positive cases and 14 deaths due to Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever or CCHF,half of which were reported in a cattle-rearing community known as the ‘Bharwads’,stated experts,who participated in the day-long conference on ‘Healthy Gujarat: Agenda For Action”,organised by the Gujarat Health and Family Welfare Department on Tuesday.

“The first instance of Congo fever was detected in Kolat village near Ahmedabad in January 2011. That year,there were four outbreaks of CCHF. The year 2012 was reportedly milder with two outbreaks. However,in 2013,there were as many as eight outbreaks,” said Dr Kamlesh Upadhyay,professor,Department of Medicine at Ahmedabad-based BJ Medical College & Civil Hospital.

“In the last three years,there have been 30 positive cases of Congo virus,50% of which are from the Bharwad community,” added Upadhyay,who was speaking on the topic of “Disease Burden” of Gujarat. “Today,there are 14 sites in Gujarat from where Congo virus has been reported,” he said.