Health Experts Urge To Adopt Precautionary Measures In Handling Sacrificial Animals

Senior physician, Professor Syed Masroor Ahmed, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) urging people to adopt precautionary measures in handling sacrificial animals as Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) has emerged to be a very real and deadly threat.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Aug, 2018 ) :Senior physician, Professor Syed Masroor Ahmed, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) urging people to adopt precautionary measures in handling sacrificial animals as Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) has emerged to be a very real and deadly threat.

Discussing "Medical Aspects of Qurbani," in a session organised by Jinnah Sindh Medical University, he said recent occurrence of Congo Fever in the metropolis demanded extreme care on part of city administration as well as people in general.

Congo Fever and Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, he said, are caused due to a virus that spreads among humans through contact with infected animals.

"I will advise generous use of good quality mosquito repellent lotions by those visiting the cattle markets," the senior physician said.

These visitors were also asked to wear full sleeve shirts with equal care to keep themselves properly covered as a precaution against coming into contact with infection-causing ticks in animals.

Dr Masroor Ahmed also advised against handling ticks with bare hands and asked application of tweezers, if required, to remove and destroy any ticks He reiterated that children must be discouraged from going closer to the animals.

On the occasion urging people to maintain the spirit of sacrifice, he asked people to avoid over consumption of protein and to balance their meal with adequate consumption of vegetables.

While asking to avoid overindulgence in context of meat, the senior doctor said food lovers celebrating the festival need to reduce salt and spices intake while trend to cook in animal fat must be discouraged as this is very difficult to be burnt down.

People must also not forget to ensure regular physical exercise during the festival, he said.

Sheikhul Hadees Mufti Ata-ur-Rehman, Director Quran Institute spoke about the spiritual aspects of sacrifice and reminded the audience about their duty to maintain cleanliness.

He said the animal as a whole is regarded as a person's sacrifice, therefore proper disposal of offal and trash is also his or her responsibility - that too in a clean manner as prescribed under religion.

Addressing those planning to offer the sacrifice, he said this obligation of theirs may not be realized if the edible portion is kept for one own self and the family / friends while the offal and trash are left unattended causing inconvenience for members of the society in general.

The Vice Chancellor of Sindh Jinnah Medical University, Professor SM Tariq Rafi said the seminar was an attempt to increase awareness about the challenges that come with Eidul Azha and provide guidance for prevention of lethal diseases like Congo Fever.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Lubna Ansari-Baig thanked the speakers and urged for moderation in the intake of food calling it our spiritual duty.

Dr Rahat Naz also spoke on the occasion.