Deadly infection : Congo virus patient dies at HMC

PESHAWAR: A Congo virus patient passed away at Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) on Sunday. Manzoor Khan, a resident of Lachi tehsil in Kohat, was admitted to HMC on September 7 and his blood samples were collected and sent for laboratory tests to Islamabad. HMC PRO Tauheed said he tested positive for the virus and Khan was kept in the isolation ward. However, he breathed his last on Sunday. On August 3, based on the special directives of K-P Health Secretary Mushtaq Jadoon, isolation wards were established at three teaching hospitals of the provincial capital. At least 22 suspected Congo virus cases have been registered in the last seven months. Laboratory reports tested 10 patients as positive of which seven died. Almost all the patients were brought to HMC and a majority of them were from neighbouring Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th,  2015.