Allah Ditta, a cattle handler who had arrived from Bahawalpur, died from the Congo virus in Mawach Goth on Friday. PHOTO: FILE
Following orders of taking preventive measures following the latest casualty, the district administration kept looking for Ditta’s family and his cattle at the market in Sohrab Goth on Saturday, but it was later revealed that the victim’s family was actually residing in Bakra Piri near Hub Chowki in Mawach Goth.
According to Ditta’s cousin, Muhammad Irfan, who has taken his body back to Bahawalpur for burial, none of the family members were tested for any virus in Karachi. Meanwhile, another relative of Ditta, Muhammad Shabbir, told The Express Tribune in Karachi that they had brought around 27 animals from Bahawalpur to Bakra Piri. He said when Ditta was suffering from high fever, they shifted him to a relative’s house in Mawach Goth, where his gums started to bleed following which they rushed him to Jinnah hospital. When West Deputy Commissioner (DC) Asif Jameel was contacted, he responded that no such incident took place in Mawach Goth. On the other hand, additional commissioner Aslam Khoso said the East DC Asif Jan Siddiqui is the focal person for the Congo virus and only he may be able to respond to queries. However, an official of District East, on the condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that their team kept looking for Ditta’s animals and his family at the cattle market in Sohrab Goth, but failed to find them all day. Meanwhile, Mehdi, the health department focal person, responding to the incoordination on part of the district administration, said their job is to intimate the district administration to take action on the ground. He feared that without their support, they may never be able to tackle the situation.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2016.
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