Congo virus claims life of teenager in Karachi

The province of Sindh on Wednesday saw its first death from Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) this year.

A 17‑year‑old cattle farm worker from Tando Adam has died in Karachi after testing positive for Crimean‑Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF). The victim first arrived at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) with fever and bleeding and was then shifted to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SID&HRC), where he passed away on Wednesday morning.

Deputy Executive Director at JPMC Dr Yahya Tunio said the boy showed signs of CCHF during clinical examination and was managed in an isolation ward. His samples were sent urgently to Aga Khan University Hospital for testing and returned positive, after which he was referred to the infectious disease facility.

According to the World Health Organization, CCHF is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever that can cause outbreaks with a case fatality rate of up to 40 per cent. The virus mainly spreads from infected ticks and livestock animals, but people can also become infected through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals.

CCHF is endemic in parts of Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Asia, especially in regions south of the 50th parallel north. There is currently no vaccine available for either humans or animals. Health authorities have urged livestock workers and people in affected areas to take strict preventive measures, including wearing protective gear and avoiding direct contact with blood or infected animals.