NIH on its toes after Congo Fever case in Bahawalpur

Islamabad

The Ministry of Health has cancelled weekend holidays of relevant staff of laboratories and the field epidemiology division of the National Institute of Health (NIH) and has directed that all samples received at NIH from suspected cases of Congo Fever should be tested and their reports shared with the Punjab government in the shortest possible time.

The measure has been taken in view of reports of Congo Fever in Bahawalpur district of Punjab. NIH has been asked to provide all-out support to the Punjab Health Department to challenges. The federal epidemic response team is also on high alert and prepared to offer help should the provincial government so require.

According to details, a surgeon in Bahawalpur’s Victoria Hospital Dr. Sageer Sameega was admitted to the hospital on July 25, 2016 with a 5 to 6 day-history of fever, sore throat and diarrhoea. His dengue fever test was negative. He was shifted to Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, on July 27 and after being diagnosed positive for Congo Fever on July 28, he died two days later on July 30.

Dr. Sageer, it is being reported, may have acquired the virus during surgery performed on a patient named Nadia Hina (student Nurse at DHQ Hospital Lodhran), who underwent laparotomy and was labelled hemorrhagic peritonitis. She reportedly had history of contact with livestock during visit to her relatives. She also died later on July 17, 2016.

Another doctor named Dr. Awais who assisted Dr. Sagheer also developed symptoms of fever and sore throat for five days and is currently on ventilator at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. He has been put on antiviral therapy as well.

The Punjab government has constituted an expert team for epidemiological investigation. The theatre and ward staff of BVH, as well as all close contacts are under observation; four of the close contacts are in quarantine. Their samples have been sent to NIH for laboratory testing.

Meanwhile, the Livestock department has been contacted for ticks’ identification and preventive measures. Family members and all 25 close contacts of the staff nurse at Lodhran are in quarantine and are being observed for 14 days. Their samples have also been sent to NIH. Dr. Awais and his family is also under observation and their samples too have been sent to NIH. As many as 2,500 personal protective kits for doctors and paramedics have been sent to Bahawalpur and 1,000 to Lodhran.