Deadly Congo Virus Claims Life of Young Doctor, Sparks High Alert in Pakistani Medical Centers

 A young doctor in Quetta, Pakistan has tragically died from the deadly Congo virus fever, leading to a high alert being issued in medical centers throughout the Balochistan province. According to Abdullah Khan, the Secretary of the Health Department, the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus has already claimed 17 lives in the province this year. The emergency was declared after it was discovered that at least 16 healthcare professionals, including doctors from two hospitals, had been infected with the virus. Initially, three doctors, including two females, were found to have contracted the Congo virus at the Civil Hospital in Quetta.

Subsequent testing revealed that 13 other healthcare professionals at the same hospital and the Fatima Jinnah Medical Centre were also infected. Due to their critical condition, the doctors were transported to a private hospital in Karachi for treatment, with some being flown in air ambulances and others being sent by road in ambulances. Tragically, one of the critical patients, Dr. Shakarullah Baloch, passed away in Karachi on Saturday night.

The two female doctors remain in critical condition. It is worth noting that the infected healthcare professionals were treating patients at other hospitals and medical centers, potentially exposing a wider population to the virus. As a precautionary measure, attendants of patients who had visited the trauma centers are also being tested for the virus and have been advised not to visit the centers to prevent further transmission. Abdullah Khan emphasized the seriousness of the situation, revealing that 17 people have lost their lives this year in the province as a result of the Congo virus.

The virus is usually transmitted to humans through tick bites or contact with infected animal blood or tissue during and after slaughter. However, human-to-human transmission can also occur through close contact with the body fluids of an infected individual. Symptoms of the Congo virus include high fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, body pain, and a stiff neck. With the number of cases continuing to rise, it is crucial for authorities to take immediate action to prevent further transmission of the virus and protect the healthcare professionals risking their lives to treat patients.