Two suspects under observation at HFH

Hospital well prepared to deal with cases

Rawalpindi

As many as two suspects of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, the close contacts of a patient died of the infection on September 8 here at Holy Family Hospital, have been under observation at the hospital as the HFH has yet to receive final reports in their cases from National Institute of Health.

‘The News’ has learnt that brother of Zulfiqar son of M Ilyas, a confirmed patient of CCHF who died of the infection at the HFH last week is under observation at the hospital though he did not develop any signs and symptoms of the deadly disease. Also a friend of the deceased Zulfiqar is under observation at the hospital.

The HFH has sent blood samples of both the suspects to the NIH for confirmatory reports and waiting for the reports. It is, however, learnt that the suspects with no symptoms of CCHF are under observation only and need no treatment at the moment.

It is important that in Rawalpindi, as many as four patients have been tested positive for CCHF during the ongoing CCHF outbreak of which two died of it while two have been discharged after achieving complete cure at HFH.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Monday reveals that out of a total 35 suspects registered with the HFH so far this year, as many as 32 have been tested negative while three were confirmed positive by the NIH. Two of the confirmed patients were discharged after treatment while one Zulfiqar died of it at the hospital last Thursday.

The HFH administration has claimed that it is well prepared to deal with CCHF cases and has taken all necessary steps to handle suspects if needed on and after Eid.

We are giving much attention to the matter and are ready to deal with CCHF suspects even during Eid holidays, said Medical Superintendent at HFH Dr. Raja Shafiq Sarwar while talking to ‘The News’.

He added that the staff at the HFH is trained to handle CCHF cases and personal protective equipment for barrier nursing has already been available at the hospital. The allied hospitals including HFH, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital have received CCHF patients in the past and managed them successfully. Two confirmed patients of the infection have achieved complete cure after treatment at the HFH during the ongoing CCHF outbreak, he said.

The HFH administration believes that the patient died of CCHF at the hospital last week was presented to the hospital with low blood in an irritable condition and he was already in much critical condition when taken to the hospital.