First Congo virus case of the year reported in Karachi

The first case of the Congo virus this year has been reported in Karachi, with the patient currently receiving medical care at Jinnah Hospital.

The patient, a 32-year-old man, was admitted to Ward 5 at Jinnah Hospital with high fever and diarrhoea. The situation escalated when laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the deadly Congo virus, causing alarm within the hospital.

Hospital officials stated that the patient’s condition required immediate transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). "Congo virus is a life-threatening infection with a survival rate of only 10%," they noted.

The Congo virus, which is typically reported around Eid-ul-Adha due to the increased movement of livestock, is transmitted from animals to humans and can spread further from human to human.

Dr Nausheen, Deputy Executive Director of Jinnah Hospital, confirmed that the patient is being transferred to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIIED) for specialised care.

In a similar case, in November 2023, a 42-year-old man from Karachi’s East District was diagnosed with the Congo virus. The Sindh Health Department’s spokesperson had confirmed that the man was admitted to a private hospital after showing symptoms of the virus.

Medical experts have identified symptoms of the Congo virus to include a drop in white blood cells, high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, and mouth ulcers.