Two die after contracting Congo virus in Quetta

The death toll from the virus has now risen to four during the last three months

QUETTA: Two people, including a staffer of Roznama Express Newspaper, have died due to Congo virus in Quetta on Wednesday, doctors confirmed to The Express Tribune.

The death toll from the virus in the city has now risen to four over the last three months.

Rana Tahir Mehmood was admitted to a hospital in Quetta after complaining of ill health.

“He was treated for three days at Mission Hospital Quetta where doctors were unable to diagnose him with Congo virus,” a family member of Mehmood said.

Due to deteriorating health the patient was later shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) where he was diagnosed with the virus.

“It was too late to do something to save the patient after he was diagnosed with the fatal virus,” family members said.

Tahir who was in his early 30s, was working in the the production department of Century Express Newspaper Quetta.

Another young man Mohammed Zubair died at Fatima Jinnah TB Sanatorium Chest Hospital.

“Zubair was brought to Provincial Sandeman Hospital Quetta on Monday with complains of bleeding. He was later shifted to an isolated ward of Fatima Jinnah Hospital where he died on Wednesday,” family members said.

Chief Medical Officer Fatima Jinnah TB sanatorium Dr Faiz Hashmi confirmed the death.

Four cases of Congo virus were confirmed in August 2014 in Zhob district of Balochistan, two of whom died.

The virus causes Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) – a widespread tick-borne viral disease that affects both wild and domestic animals and can be passed on to humans.