Congo virus claims five more lives in Sindh

Total eight cases of Congo virus have been reported in the province from January 1 to July 16

KARACHI: The number of deaths caused due to the Congo virus has increased to five in Sindh. With Eidul Azha drawing closer, a rise is observed in the number of Congo virus cases, which is mainly caused by ticks that inhabit the skin of different animals.

According to a report released by the Sindh health department, eight cases of Congo virus have been reported in the province from January 1 to July 16, this year.

Of these, three were brought to the Aga Khan University Hospital for treatment, two to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), two to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital and one to Dr Ziauddin Hospital.



All the patients who were being treated at the Aga Khan Hospital and JPMC succumbed to the disease.

The first death caused by Congo virus was reported in early June. Noora Shah Khan, 50, a resident of Metroville, was the first to be reported of being infected by the virus and was brought to the AKUH for treatment on June 3, 2019. She died on the same day.

The second death reported was of 36-year-old Wali Khan Achakzai who hailed from Quetta. Complaining of high fever and bleeding from the mouth and nose, he had come to Karachi for treatment and was diagnosed with Congo virus.

Achakzai died on June 6, 2019, during treatment at the AKUH. About a week after Achakzai's death, Arab Rajab Ali Muhammad's death was reported. The 20-year-old youth was a resident of Taiser Town and died during treatment at the AKUH on June 12, 2019.

The other victims, who died during treatment at JPMC, included Tazeem Faizan, 35, a resident of Orangi Town and Muhammad Raheem, 54, a resident of Sehwan Sharif. The deaths occurred in the months of February and March.

The health department report says that the victims of the Congo virus comprised 89 per cent males and 10 per cent females, and those aged between 30 to 39 years were most prone to being infected.



Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, commonly known as the Congo virus, causes bleeding in the human body. In case of excessive bleeding, death of an individual is likely to occur.

The virus is carried by ticks that inhabit the skin of various animals. When these ticks bite humans or enter the bloodstream, the body gets infected by the Congo virus.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th, 2019.