Fatal disease: Congo virus claims another life

PPP rally presents hurdles to health department

KARACHI: Muhammad Nasir, a resident of Malir Model Colony, breathed his last in the intensive care unit of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Ojha campus, in the wee hours of Sunday due to Congo virus.

Health department focal person Dr Zafar Mehdi told The Express Tribune that the death of a patient happened because of Congo virus. Nasir was admitted to DUHS and his blood sample was sent to the Aga Khan University Hospital's (AKUH) lab for a test that confirmed that the patient was suffering from Congo, informed Mehdi.



The body of the deceased was handed over to the family, said Mehdi, who added that it will be made sure that the body is buried in isolation without a funeral bath. However, an official of the health department, requesting anonymity, said that the family of the patient could not be contacted for further tests of the family members until later in the evening due to Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) rally in the city on Sunday.

The district health officer, whose job is to contact the family of the patient for further tests, was busy in arrangements for the PPP rally, said the health department official. Meanwhile, the town health officer was not able to reach Malir due to severe traffic jams in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2016.