Hundreds of nurses and doctors attend workshop on Congo fever

SURAT: More than 300 members of Trained Nurses’ Association and also doctors were made aware about

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever

(CCHF) at a workshop held here on Sunday.


Dr Jayesh Kosambia, head of department of PSM department of New Civil Hospital (NCH), said, “We have not had a single case of CCHF in south

Gujarat

this year. This workshop was held for the benefit of doctors and nurses so that they remain prepared in case there is an outbreak here.”

Lots of people keep travelling to and fro between Rajkot, Jamnagar, Ahmedabad and different districts of Saurashtra where cases of CCHF were recently reported. Animals like cattle, goats, sheep and hares work as amplifying hosts for the virus which to humans is transmitted through contact with infected ticks or animal blood.

Dr Vikas Desai, director of Urban Health and Climate Resilience Centre, said, “The workshop’s objective was to provide guidance to nurses and doctors. We have to be cautious because of 50 per cent mortality rate from this disease.”

The initial symptoms of CCHF are cough, fever and respiratory disorders.

Iqbal Kadiwala, president of Trained Nurses Association, Surat chapter, said, “More than 300 nurses and also some doctors attended the workshop. They received basic information about the disease and what they should do if someone is found infected with the virus.”