Karachi Sees Another Death Due To Congo Virus

In Karachi, another individual succumbed to the Congo virus at a private hospital on Friday, marking the third death from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in the past five days. The deceased, initially from Quetta, was on a ventilator at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital in Karachi.

Seventeen patients, a mix of suspected and confirmed CCHF cases, were transferred to Karachi, with two released and two fatalities, as reported by a Sindh health department spokesperson. In response, an emergency has been declared in all government-run hospitals in the province.

Read more : Sindh, Balochistan On Alert After Doctors Congo Virus Death

Following a red warning issued by the Balochistan government due to a rising number of Congo virus fever cases (resulting in 16 fatalities), Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Domki directed health and livestock agencies to take immediate action. The chief minister authorized public notifications about the infection and approved antiviral spraying on cattle ranches.

The Congo virus poses a severe threat, causing early-stage bleeding and primarily transmitting to humans through ticks on livestock. While its symptoms resemble those of dengue fever, the virus can rapidly become life-threatening. Precautions, such as wearing protective clothing and using insect repellent when in contact with livestock, are advised by the health department to prevent infection.

Medical experts highlight the Congo virus’s high fatality rate, emphasizing the absence of a specific treatment or vaccine at present.