Punjab health dept issues Congo virus alert

LAHORE: The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has issued an alert about the Congo Virus threat in the wake of the spread of the disease in Sindh and Balochistan provinces.

According to a circular, the Punjab Health Department has directed all district officers to take special precautionary measures for protection from the Congo virus.

The urgency of the situation was underscored by the tragic death of a doctor who had been diagnosed with the Congo virus in Quetta.

The situation prompted the Punjab government to take urgent measures to contain the disease.

Doctor succumbs to Congo virus in Quetta, multiple cases reported

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the department emphasised the importance of promptly disseminating information about the Congo virus to the general public.

It further directed the implementation of anti-viral spray measures in dairy farms to mitigate the spread of the virus.

The circular also added that individuals displaying symptoms of the virus should receive immediate medical attention.

The circular indicated that a doctor and two staff who have contracted the Congo virus are in critical condition in Quetta.

Authorities in Sindh also put hospitals on high alert after a person passed away from the Congo virus on Sunday day while 11 others also contracted the disease.

Eight doctors and three staff are undergoing treatment in the Agha Khan Hospital in Karachi who have contracted the Congo virus. They were infected with the Congo virus through a patient in Quetta. 

Three doctors under treatment are still in critical condition in the ICU.

The Congo virus, or Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), is a highly contagious disease transmitted by ticks and contact with infected animals. It leads to severe symptoms and can be fatal if not treated promptly, particularly in endemic regions such as parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.