First Congo virus case of 2019 reported in Karachi

KARACHI: First case of the year of Congo virus was reported in Karachi on Monday, ARY News reported.

Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center (JPMC) Executive Director Dr Seemi Jamali confirmed that a 35-year-old woman was suffering from Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).

“Laboratory tests have confirmed that she has Congo fever,” she said.

Last year 41 people were diagnosed with the disease and the most of them belonged to Quetta, Balochistan, she said.

Seemi Jamali said at least 16 people died from Congo last year in Karachi.

A case of Congo virus was reported from the metropolis in September last year. A resident of Safoora Goth, Pervaiz who is 20-year-old was diagnosed with the Congo virus. He was taken to Karachi’s Jinnah Hospital after symptoms of Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) started appearing.

The disease is caused when a tick attaches itself to the skin of cattle and when that infected tick or animal come in contact with people, the highly contagious virus is transmitted into the human body and the person falls ill.

This disease has 40-50 per cent mortality rate.

The initial symptoms of CCHF include headache, high fever, rashes, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, and vomiting.