KARACHI:
The Congo virus claimed on Tuesday the life of its first victim of the year in Sindh. Dr Ayaz Khan, 44, a medical technician residing in Quetta, died after being admitted to the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) for almost a week.
So far, there has been no concrete evidence or indication on how Dr Khan contracted the disease, which has a 30 per cent fatality rate. Dr Khan was suspected of being infected with the tick-borne viral disease in Quetta and was sent to Karachi for a diagnosis.
Three other cases of Congo were reported in Sindh this year, all of whom were declared stable. All the patients hailed from Quetta and were brought to Karachi for treatment.
“When Dr Khan arrived in Karachi he was already in a serious condition,” said a health department official, requesting anonymity.
An investigation to find out how Dr Khan contracted the virus is presently underway in Quetta. As a precaution Dr Khan’s family was also tested for Congo. “Only exposure to blood is dangerous and to our knowledge no family members were exposed to his blood,” Dr Khan’s physician said.
What is the Congo virus?
Congo fever is found mainly among domestic and wild animals through which it may be transmitted to humans. The season for the tick-borne virus with symptoms similar to dengue fever is from June to September. The onset of the illness is sudden with symptoms such as fever, severe muscular pain, chills, headache and vomiting.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2011.
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