CHAMAN: A case of Congo virus has been reported in Balochistan’s Kali Hassan Thekedar area ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, provincial health authorities said.
According to the Health Department, 11-year-old Farishta has tested positive for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and has been shifted to Jinnah Hospital in Quetta for treatment on Thursday.
The emergence of the case comes amid rising concern over a potential increase in infections ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, following an earlier reported case in Tando Muhammad Khan.
In that incident, a 17-year-old patient from Tando Muhammad Khan died in a Karachi hospital after being brought in with symptoms of high fever and internal bleeding. Laboratory tests at a private facility confirmed the presence of the Congo virus.
Officials said the deceased was working as an animal caretaker. Health experts warned that the virus can be transmitted through ticks found on livestock, urging the public to take strict precautions when handling sacrificial animals.
They advised people involved in animal care to wear protective gloves at all times to reduce the risk of infection.
Meanwhile, health authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also issued an advisory to prevent the spread of CCHF across the province ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, directing hospitals to remain on high alert.
Officials have stressed tick-control measures in livestock and approved PCR and ELISA testing for suspected cases, while instructing medical staff to handle blood samples with extreme caution.