The National Institute of Health has issued an advisory on CCHF ahead of Eid Al Adha, urging timely and appropriate measures by health authorities and the public as animal movement and human contact with livestock increase across Pakistan.
CCHF is caused by a nairovirus and is carried by ticks that hide in the fur of animals such as goats, sheep and rabbits. The virus can be transmitted to people through tick bites or direct contact with the blood and tissues of infected animals during slaughter and meat handling, and human-to-human transmission from infected patients is also possible.
Pakistan recorded its first CCHF case in 1976. Historically, Balochistan reports the highest number of cases, though Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to report infections. In 2024 there were 61 confirmed CCHF cases with a reported case fatality rate of 15 percent. In 2025 reported cases rose to 82 with 20 deaths, and by March 2026 four cases have been reported so far.
With Eid Al Adha prompting unusual animal movement and closer contact between people and livestock, the advisory stresses simple precautions to reduce the risk of CCHF. The public is advised to wear light-coloured clothing to make ticks easier to spot, remove any ticks found on skin or clothing safely, avoid areas known for heavy tick presence, and use gloves when slaughtering or dressing animals to prevent contamination with blood and tissues. Animal blood and offal should be disposed of carefully to limit exposure.
Health authorities reiterate that awareness and early action are key to limiting CCHF spread during the holiday period. For the full advisory and further guidance visit the National Institute of Health website at www.nih.org.pk.
