ISLAMABAD: Health authorities in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province confirmed on Sunday a man lost his life at a local hospital in Karachi earlier this week due to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) after verification of his test results.
CCHF is a viral hemorrhagic disease that is transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, mainly through the handling of livestock or their blood, tissue, or excrement. It can also be transmitted from human to human through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person.
The disease has a high fatality rate, and there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for it.
According to the details provided by the health authorities, the patient, Muhammad Adil, was 28 years old and worked as a butcher. He developed a high-grade fever and headache toward the end of April and was admitted to a local hospital on May 2.
“The patient had episodes of bleeding from nose and mucous membranes,” said a document shared by the provincial health authorities. “His initial investigations for Dengue and Malaria came out to be negative.”
As his condition deteriorated, he was given critical care treatment at the Ziauddin Hospital in North Nazimabad Karachi.
“Despite intensive care, the patient expired [on May 5],” the document added.
Health authorities across the world urge the public, especially those who work in close contact with animals, to take precautionary measures, follow strict hygiene practices, wear protective gear, and seek immediate medical attention if any symptoms of the disease are observed.
According to the provincial health officials in Sindh, the 28-year-old had no travel history which suggested that he recently left Karachi. However, he handled slaughtered animals since he worked at a local meat shop in the city.
