Balochistan resident dies of Congo virus at AKUH

Karachi

The death of 32-year-old man at the Aga Khan University Hospital due to the Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) was confirmed by authorities on Tuesday. The victim, who became the second patient to have died in the city of Congo fever this year, was a resident of Chaman town, Balochistan.

Abdul Qadir Achakzai was brought to AKUH on April 21 with internal and external bleeding. He was diagnosed by doctors to have infected by the deathly virus, informed an official of the provincial health department, Zafar Mehdi.

The health official brushed off media reports claiming the man was from Karachi; he said a relative of the deceased resided in Saddar but the man himself hailed from Balochistan.

The office of director health Karachi had confirmed his death, which occurred on Monday, however, the AKUH informed the health authorities of the day on Tuesday.

He claimed the virus was not a threat in Karachi as proper measures to contain it had been adopted by the authorities.

The viral disease is caused by a tick (a parasitic arachnid) as it attaches itself with the skin of an animal mainly livestock and transmits it to humans.