KARACHI: A 20-year-old was diagnosed with the Congo virus, taking the reported number of cases to four for this year in Karachi.
A resident of Safoora Goth, Pervaiz was taken to Karachi’s Jinnah Hospital after he showed symptoms of Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).
In August this year, 23-year-old Salman was diagnosed with the disease.
According to Dr Seemin Jamali, there are three Congo virus patients under treatment at Jinnah Hospital.
“Two of the patients are from Quetta, while the third is from Karachi,” Dr Jamali said.
11 patients have been hospitalised so far in 2018, she added.
“Four out of the 11 patients have succumbed to Congo virus,” Dr Jamali added.
The CCHF is caused when a tick attaches itself to the skin of cattle. People who come in contact with the infected ticks or animals can contract the highly contagious, viral disease that has 40-50 per cent mortality rate.
The onset of CCHF is sudden, with initial signs and symptoms including headache, high fever, rashes, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, and vomiting.