A 28-year-old man from Landhi has died at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) after exhibiting symptoms consistent with Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), commonly known as the Congo virus.
The patient, identified as M. Zubair, was admitted to the JPMC’s emergency department on September 24 with high-grade fever, severe body pain and vomiting of blood. This is the 5th death due to CCHF in Karachi and overall sixth death due to the tick-borne disease reported from the province this year, officials in the provincial health department said.
Doctors immediately suspected viral haemorrhagic fever and shifted him to the isolation ward. Despite being administered emergency treatment, including multiple blood transfusions, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he could not survive.
Hospital record seen by this correspondent show that the young man was a butcher by profession, which placed him in a high-risk category for contracting Congo virus due to direct exposure to livestock.
Blood samples were sent for laboratory testing, and a PCR test conducted at the JPMC’s Molecular Genetics Lab confirmed the presence of CCHF RNA. The report, issued on September 26, marked the test as “Detected”, strongly suggesting active or recent infection.
A spokesperson for the Sindh health department also confirmed that the death of Zubair, a butcher from Karachi’s Landhi area, was caused by CCHF. The department’s surveillance team subsequently investigated the case, reviewing the patient’s exposure, contact history and associated risk factors, and verified that he had direct contact with animals and ticks due to his profession.
Despite being isolated immediately and given resuscitation, he died within hours of admission. Laboratory findings confirmed CCHF PCR positive, while tests for malaria and dengue were negative. Officials said the case has been fully verified, and hospital staff have been alerted to continue strict infection-control measures.
Medical experts say Congo virus is transmitted to humans through ticks found on livestock or by direct contact with the blood and tissues of infected animals, particularly around the time of Eidul Azha when large numbers of sacrificial animals are handled in urban areas. Butchers, cattle traders and people involved in slaughtering are considered at highest risk.
Common symptoms include sudden high fever, headache, body pain, and bleeding from the mouth, nose, or other sites. If untreated, the disease often proves fatal. Doctors stress that early diagnosis, isolation, and supportive treatment are crucial for survival.
Health authorities in Sindh have placed hospitals on alert and directed medical staff to follow strict infection-control protocols. Citizens are advised to wear gloves, cover exposed skin, and avoid direct contact with animal blood or ticks when handling livestock.
This case has sparked concern in Karachi, as Congo virus has been a recurring threat in Pakistan, with cases surfacing almost every year. Public health officials are monitoring the situation closely to prevent further spread.