Two cases of Congo virus confirmed in Civil Hospital Karachi

Karachi: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) was confirmed in two under-treatment patients in Civil Hospital Karachi, recently.

An official of Civil Hospital Karachi confirmed that two patients with high-fever were brought in the general ward of the hospital for treatment and their blood sample was sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad. He said; The NIH report confirmed that both 60-year-old Baqir Naqvi and Naseem were suffering from Congo fever. He said Baqir Naqvi was isolated from other patient, while Naseem was discharged from the hospital after some improvement, but before the confirmation report was received by the hospital administration.

He said; Congo is a deadly viral disease which spreads through a tick-bite found on animals. People, who deal with dairy farming and livestock, are most likely to catch the disease. Symptoms of Congo virus are high-fever, dizziness, neck pain, backache, muscle aches, sore eyes, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and others. Symptoms of the disease generally appear three to four days after exposure to ticks.

Panic had spread among the admitted patients, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, after hearing the news that two Congo patients are found among them in the general ward. He said; The patients with dengue, Congo and other diseases with hemorrhagic fever, must be kept in isolation ward, as these viral diseases can easily infect other patients, if timely and thorough protective measures are not taken in this regard.

Medical Superintendent - Prof Saeed Qureshi said; Congo fever was confirmed in two male patients admitted on 13th January evening and one of these patients was immediately isolated from other patients. He, however, said; Hospital administration tried to call back the other Congo patient Naseem, who was discharged earlier, but he refused to return back, saying; “I am feeling better now”.