Integrated Disease, Surveillance and Response Unit of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Health Department has released an initial report about the Congo virus in the province, showing that at least six confirmed cases of the disease in humans have been reported so far.

            Two patients who came from Lower Kurram have been identified as Shoib, 31, and Wahid, 32. Both of them had a high fever for which they consulted doctors and all the symptoms pointed towards Congo fever.

            Another patient from the same Lower Kurram tested negative for the disease. One Afghan national Saddam, 50, has also been found infected by the Congo virus and was hospitalized and later discharged after his full recovery.

The onset of symptoms is sudden, with fever, myalgia, (muscle ache), dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache, sore eyes, and photophobia (sensitivity to light). There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion

            Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is found in Eastern Europe, particularly in the former Soviet Union, throughout the Mediterranean, in northwestern China, central Asia, southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Three suspected patients have already died in Peshawar. I would like to request the government to take serious action on this.

 

By: Qamber Azeem

The writer belongs to HOPELA Academy Turbat

Kech Balochistan