During his doctoral studies, he was a visiting research scholar to the department of Microbiology and Immunology Columbia University New York, USA Further research with larger sample sizes and more comprehensive data collection is needed to better understand the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of CCHFV in this region.

Dr Asad Zia earned his PhD degree in virology from the department of Biotechnology. During his doctoral studies, he was a visiting research scholar to the department of Microbiology and Immunology Columbia University New York, USA. Currently, Dr Zia is working as scientific officer at public health reference laboratory, Khyber pukhtoonkhwa. He is actively involved in the detection and genomic surveillance of CCHF, Dengue, Influenza, M. Pox, Chikungunya and SARS-CoV-2 viruses in the Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa region. Dr Zia is also involved in educating the people on One Health concept and also providing technical assistance to the public health department of KP. He has also served as assistant professor in Iqra National University swat campus for two years. Additionally, he worked as a Technical Consultant for the SAFETYNET, a CDC-funded initiative aimed at strengthening public health surveillance and laboratory networks in Pakistan. Reference: Silent killer strikes during Eid-Ul-Adha: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever outbreak in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 2023  Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) poses a substantial public health threat, yet its prevalence and epidemiological distribution, particularly in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, remain inadequately documented. Methods: This study investigated the 2023 CCHFV outbreak in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during the Eid-ul-Adha season, focusing on prevalence, demographics, and transmission dynamics. A PCR-based diagnostic assay, considered the gold standard, was employed to confirm CCHFV among 109 suspected cases enrolled from April to July, 2023. Results: Of the suspected cases, 15 (13.76%) were CCHFV positive, with the highest prevalence among males aged 20–30 years. A significant spike (5 cases) with highest incidence (33.33%) was recorded in Peshawar district, during week 29 (July 2023), following the Eid-ul-Adha. The majority of confirmed cases were male (n = 12, 80%), and presented with fever, body aches, confusion, and bleeding episodes. The case fatality rate (CFR) was 26.67%. Conclusion: These findings highlight CCHFV as a pressing public health concern in the region. The elevated risk associated with Eid-ul-Adha, and age and gender demographics necessitates targeted awareness initiatives, preventive strategies, and strengthened surveillance during peak risk periods to mitigate transmission. Study limitations include a relatively small sample size, potential selection bias, and the lack of a control group. Further research with larger sample sizes and more comprehensive data collection is needed to better understand the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of CCHFV in this region.