Deadly virus scare: Dengue not Ebola caused patient’s death in Faisalabad

ISLAMABAD:

Top health authorities on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of the Ebola virus causing the death of a male patient in Faisalabad’s Allied Hospital and instead attributed his condition to dengue fever.

In a joint statement the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) said the initial investigations concluded that Zulfiqar Ali was in terminal stage of hepatitis C, with an episode of hemorrhagic dengue fever, as confirmed by laboratory exams.

This conclusion was drawn after considering the travel history of the patient and the people he came in contact with, said joint statement by WHO and NHSRC.

Talking to The Express Tribune, an official at the National Institute of Health (NIH), on the condition of anonymity, said the NIH had not received the blood samples of the patient till the filing of this story.

“After thoroughly examining the blood samples of the patient it will further get clear about the other related causes that could be attributed to his death,” said the official.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2014.