Chitral butcher tests positive for Congo virus

K-P health department confirmed the infection

CHITRAL: A butcher in the Booni area of Chitral has been diagnosed with the Congo virus. The health department confirmed the infection on Saturday.

District Health Officer Dr Iftikharuddin said that the Afghan refugee Sabir Noori, who originally hails from Panjsher in Afghanistan, had settled in the Booni area of Chitral and worked as a butcher. He added that his suspected Congo virus case was reported to the local hospital which twice sent his blood samples to Peshawar for laboratory tests. The tests returned positive for the virus.

Taking notice of the case, Assistant Commissioner Mastuj and Dr Inayatullah sealed two butcher shops in the Booni bazaar in the presence of the Booni Tehsil Headquarters Hospital’s (THQ) medical superintendent.

Moreover, butchers at the store were directed to get all of their family members tested at the THQ or other hospitals for Congo virus infection.

After the confirmation of the case, locals urged the district health authorities to send special medical teams to ascertain and diagnose other possible infectees and overcome the virus.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2018.