The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock launched a campaign for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever ahead of Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday which is celebrated with a Feast of Sacrifice.

Speaking at an event in Kabul, the deputy Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Sadr Azam Osmani, said that the campaign aims to boost awareness among citizens.

“The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock and the veterinary department of the ministry with its staff who are veterinarians should sanitize the livestock,” he said.

Meanwhile, the head of the veterinary department of the ministry, Ahmad Mukhtar Mohsini, said that all the livestock entering Kabul will be disinfected.

“This program is for public awareness at the four gates of Kabul… to control the disease,” he said.

According to the World Health Organization, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family.

“The CCHF virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 10–40%,” the WHO said.

This comes as recently many "Congo disease" cases have been registered in various provinces including Balkh, Khost, Jawzjan and Paktia.