Authorities in Sindh and Balochistan provinces put hospitals on high alert after a person passed away from the Congo virus while 11 others also contracted the disease.
Dr. Shukrullah Langove was shifted from Balochistan’s capital Quetta to Agha Khan Hospital by road in the southern port city of Karachi after he contracted the Congo virus. However, doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival on Sunday.
The Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), or simply Congo virus, is a viral disease, which is transmitted to humans through tick bites or contact with infected animal blood or tissues. The virus is primarily found in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and some parts of Europe.
Pakistan, off and on, has been witnessing the outbreak of Congo virus cases over the past many years. This year’s first fatality from the deadly virus emerged on May 7.
The latest wave of the disease was detected on Nov 3, when 112 people, including duty doctors, paramedics and attendants, at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Sandeman Hospital were infected.
The Balochistan government said 44 Congo virus patients belonged to Quetta.
At present, 11 suspected Congo virus patients, including two women, are admitted to Aga Khan Hospital, Karachi. Shabir Alam, the spokesperson for the Aga Khan Hospital, said that nine patients with symptoms of Congo virus were brought to the hospital.
Through the advisory, the health department instructed for adopting precautionary measures against the Congo virus. The department also issued a red alert for the hospitals in Karachi and issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the Congo virus. The authorities must act promptly to deal with the Congo virus outbreak else the situation can turn worse in the metropolis like during covid and the dengue outbreak.
