ISLAMABAD, AUGUST 15: Late on Wednesday night, officials said that a patient who tested positive for the Congo virus had been admitted to the Sindh Infectious Disease Hospital and Research Centre.
The 32-year-old patient was originally reported to Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi on Tuesday, marking the first instance of Congo fever this year. Later on, Wednesday, he was sent to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).
“His condition is critical.” Dr. Yahya Tunio, the deputy executive director of JPMC, stated, “We have moved him to a specialized hospital for infectious diseases where he will receive appropriate care.”
The patient, who works as a butcher, has Congo fever, commonly known as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Ticks are the usual vector of this viral hemorrhagic fever, although it can also be transferred by coming into touch with infected animal tissues during and just after slaughter.
There is currently no vaccination against Congo fever for people or animals, and the disease can have a case fatality rate of up to 40%.
