KARACHI: Sindh has confirmed its first death from Congo virus this year, with a 42-year-old man from District Malir passing away in Karachi. The patient was admitted to Indus Hospital in Korangi on June 16 after testing positive for the virus and died the following day.
Health department officials revealed that the patient had no recent travel history, suggesting local transmission of the virus. Congo virus is a severe viral disease primarily transmitted through tick bites or contact with the blood and tissues of infected animals, particularly during slaughter. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a case fatality rate ranging from 10-40%, with no vaccine currently available.
In April, the National Institute of Health (NIH) issued a warning ahead of Eidul Azha, when the movement of sacrificial animals increases, urging the public to take preventive measures.
