13 cases of Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever reported in Sindh this year

KARACHI: Sindh Health Department has reported 13 cases of Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) so far this year, with four cases emerging in August alone.

The cases, all treated at Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, reflect the ongoing struggle against this deadly viral disease, officials said on Wednesday.

Earlier in the year, four CCHF cases were reported in March, followed by three in May, two in June, and the recent four in August in Karachi.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad has confirmed that, by July 2024, a total of 39 CCHF cases were reported across Pakistan, with nine fatalities.

CCHF, a tick-borne viral disease, continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Pakistan, particularly in regions like Sindh and Balochistan.

The country’s agricultural reliance on livestock, coupled with gaps in healthcare infrastructure, exacerbates the spread and impact of this severe hemorrhagic fever.