Two more cases of Congo virus reported in Quetta

QUETTA: Two more Congo Virus patients were shifted to the isolation ward on Thursday.

The Fatima Jinnah General and Chest Hospital has four patients under treatment for the virus. Hospital administration said that their health is improving.

Samples of their blood have sent for PCR Tests to Karachi, Quetta does not have facilities to conduct the test.

Death toll from the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever or Congo virus in Pakistan has climbed to 19 this year, with five deaths reported in Karachi, twelve in Quetta and two in Bahawalpur.

Congo virus is a viral disease that is commonly spread by ticks found on hairy animals.

With Eid-ul-Azha almost upon us, health experts are advising citizens to take special preventive measures to avoid contracting the virus.

According to them, healthcare workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed Congo virus or handling specimens from them should implement standard infection control precautions.

These include basic hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, safe injection practices and safe burial practices, Dr Wasim Khawaja a public health specialist at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said.

He said that to reduce the risk people should wear protective clothing like long sleeves or long trousers and wear light coloured clothing to allow easy detection of ticks on the clothes.