Congo fever kills young doctor

Dr Husnain died after spending night in a health facility established for flood survivors.

ABBOTABAD: A young resident medical officer (RMO), Dr Husnain Shah, working in the Ayub Teaching Hospital died of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, the hospital management confirmed on Saturday.

The hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr Iftikhar said that pathological tests conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH)have determined that Dr Husnain’s death occurred due to the deadly Congo fever.

Dr Husnain died after spending a night in Besham, district Shangla, in a health facility established for flood survivors. His younger brother also appears to be suffering from the same disease and has been suffering fluctuating temperature and low platelets for the past few days.  The case was referred to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.

The hospital administration has sent the blood samples of his relatives and hospital staff to laboratories in Islamabad. The hospital administration has decided to provide free medical treatment to all relatives of the deceased doctor, while blood samples of the medical staff of the other complex are going to be sent to National Institute of Health for further investigation.

A special ward in the dental block is being used to quarantine patients suspected to be infected with the Congo virus. Another ICU unit will also be established in the hospital to provide medical treatment to dengue virus, bird flu and Congo virus patients.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2010.