QUETTA: A pharmacist from the Quetta Civil Hospital, who was diagnosed with Congo virus fever, has been shifted to Karachi for further treatment.
Dr Arif, the spokesperson for the Young Doctors Association (YDA), revealed that the number of patients moved to Karachi for Congo virus treatment has now risen to nine.
He further indicated that two more patients are slated for transfer, deploring the lack of substantial government role in addressing the crisis.
In response to the escalating situation, the Balochistan government issued a red alert, highlighting the alarming prevalence of the Congo virus fever across the province, which has already claimed 16 lives.
Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Domki has directed the health and livestock departments to implement immediate measures to contain the spread of the disease. He stressed the importance of disseminating crucial information about the virus to the general public and ordered the implementation of anti-viral spray at livestock farms.
Expressing concern over the severity of the new strain of Congo virus fever, CM Domki stressed the necessity of providing emergency medical assistance to patients exhibiting symptoms associated with the virus.
Earlier, a doctor diagnosed with the Congo virus tragically passed away in Quetta. According to the YDA spokesperson, the patient succumbed to the illness while being transferred to Karachi for medical intervention.
This year alone, Fatima Jinnah Hospital in Quetta has admitted a total of 41 patients with Congo virus, resulting in 16 fatalities.
The virus, primarily transmitted to humans through ticks on cattle and other livestock, can lead to severe symptoms such as high fever, muscle pain, vomiting, and internal bleeding. With its high fatality rate, there is currently no available vaccine or specific treatment for the virus.
