The Palghar administration has asked officials to alert against the spread of Congo fever in the district. The Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), commonly termed as the Congo fever, spreads in humans via ticks.

The district administration said in the wake of the outbreak of novel coronavirus, this is a matter of worry for cattle- breeders and animal husbandry and it is essential to take preventive measures in early-stage as there is no specific and useful treatment for the fever. Dr Prashant D Kamble, Palghar animal husbandry department's deputy commissioner in a circular stated that the CCHF has been found in some districts of Gujarat, and is likely to spread to border districts of Maharashtra.

WHAT IS CONGO FEVER

Congo fever is caused by the CCHF virus and its symptoms are mostly like dengue fever, which makes the real disease difficult to diagnose," said the health officials.

Health Ministry officials said that the virus is primarily transmitted to people from ticks and livestock. Animals bitten by infected ticks become infected and the virus remains in their bloodstream for about one week. Hence those involved in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians are at a risk. Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is spread through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites) and its symptoms include fever, headache, body ache and rashes.

(With inputs from IANS)