Health advisory for Eid-related slaughter in Oman

Muscat: Despite officials urging Omanis to stop slaughtering goats at home and use government-run slaughter houses instead, most people still prefer to slaughter personally as has been the tradition during Eid.
Ahead of Eid, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has advised the public to adopt preventive measures and follow hygiene norms to avoid contracting the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) while slaughtering animals.
The ministry called on the public to ensure that the animals they purchase are free of ticks and that they should not touch or crush or remove ticks by hand. The ministry also added that people should wear protective clothing, gloves and long shoes when handling animals and their tissues.
Inside home
However, most nationals find it a must to slaughter inside or beside their houses as the tradition has existed for a long time. Moreover, the Muscat Municipality has tweeted that some precautionary measures should be adopted by the public while slaughtering individually at home. “We know it’s not the same as it was in the past, but still this practice in particular has its own taste. All the families gather in one place and work together,” said Mohammed Khalfan, a resident based in Quraiyat.
He added that he had arranged to follow the municipality’s measures. “I and my family are fully prepared for Eid day. I have bought gloves and long shoes and will make sure to throw the waste in the proper area allocated by the ministry.”
The Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Muscat Municipality has also called on people to head to the approved municipal slaughterhouses. However, for those who prefer slaughtering at home, they should follow preventive measures and also dispose the slaughter waste by putting it in bags and throwing it in designated areas.
Amerat, Seeb
Two new slaughterhouses were opened by the Muscat Municipality in Amerat and Seeb. The municipality stated that the two slaughterhouses will open doors for the public this Eid.
CCHF has claimed eight lives in 2016 so far, according to the MoH. The ministry has also urged people to seek medical advice if they notice any symptoms of the Congo fever.
Normally, symptoms appear after 13 days of infection and include fever, muscle aches, dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, back pain, headache, sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light).
There may also be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion, in addition to drowsiness and depression after two to four days.
Abdominal pain may concentrate in the right upper quadrant, with a significant enlargement of the liver. Other signs of infection are a fast heartbeat, lymphadenopathy and rash or bruises. Usually, there are signs of inflammation in the liver.
Rapid deterioration
Patients with serious cases may suffer from rapid deterioration in kidney functions or sudden liver or pulmonary failure after the fifth day.
The ministry also added that all health institutions are observing the highest degree of vigilance and precaution to receive the suspected cases.