High Alert in Sindh and Balochistan Hospitals After Congo Virus Fatality
A person in the southern Pakistani regions of Sindh and Balochistan has succumbed to the Congo virus, leading to a state of high alert in local hospitals. Additionally, 11 other individuals have fallen ill, as confirmed by a Sindh health official.
Dr. Shukrullah Langove, who contracted the Congo virus, was transferred from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi. Regrettably, upon his arrival, medical professionals pronounced him deceased.
Shabbir Ali Babar of the Sindh Health Department made a public announcement, stating, “A high alert has been issued in the province, and hospitals across Sindh have been directed to enforce preventive measures against the virus.”
Currently, Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi is treating eleven patients from Balochistan. Babar further explained, “The Sindh Health Department has designated a special ward at the Infectious Disease Hospital for Congo patients arriving from Balochistan.”
Meanwhile, all hospitals in the province have received health guidelines from the Sindh Health Department, which specify precautionary measures against the virus.
Notably, a doctor from Quetta, who had contracted the Congo virus, passed away while en route to Karachi for treatment on Sunday.
The Congo virus is a highly perilous disease that can induce early-stage bleeding, primarily transmitted to humans through ticks on cattle and other livestock. Although its symptoms resemble those of dengue fever, they can swiftly become life-threatening. The health department has advised individuals to exercise caution by wearing protective clothing and using insect repellent when in proximity to livestock to prevent contracting the virus.
Medical experts stress that the Congo virus has a significant fatality rate, and presently, no specific treatment or vaccine is available for this virus.
