ISLAMABAD: At least two persons lost their lives to the deadly Congo virus(Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, CCHF) in the past 24 hours in Quetta, the provincial capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, local media reported.
According to the Health Department, the latest victims were receiving treatment at Fatima Jinnah Hospital, where one patient succumbed to the virus. In addition to the fatalities, two new cases of Congo virus have been diagnosed, pushing the total number of cases in Balochistan to 30 for this year.
One of the new cases involved a 30-year-old man named Rohullah from Hazara Town, Quetta. He was diagnosed with Congo virus and has been placed in isolation at Fatima Jinnah Hospital. This case marks the 27th reported instance of the Congo virus in Balochistan, with the region experiencing a concerning rise in infections. So far eight persons have died of the virus in Balochistan this year.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued advisories emphasizing the need for stringent prevention and control measures to curb the spread of CCHF. The virus, caused by the tick-borne Nairovirus, is transmitted through tick bites or direct contact with the blood and tissues of infected animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, and hares.
Health officials urged residents to be vigilant and adhere to recommended preventive measures. These include avoiding contact with potentially infected animals, practicing good hygiene, and seeking prompt medical attention if symptoms of CCHF appear.
