In response to an influx of Congo virus cases from Balochistan, the Sindh government has taken immediate and proactive measures to address the situation, including the establishment of an eight-bed Congo Unit at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Karachi.
The Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), commonly known as the Congo virus, is a viral disease transmitted through tick bites or contact with infected animal blood or tissues. With the recent outbreak in Balochistan, the Sindh Health Minister, Dr. Saad Niaz, assured that the provincial government would provide all necessary medical assistance to patients coming from Balochistan.
To bolster the healthcare infrastructure, an Infectious Disease Hospital under Dow Medical University in Karachi has activated an eight-bed Congo Unit. Additionally, the Infection Control Unit at Civil Hospital, Karachi, has been reactivated with the deployment of essential staff and equipment, including personal protective gear.
In response to the emerging cases, Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi has admitted suspected Congo virus patients to its intensive care unit. The hospital has equipped its medical staff with personal protective equipment, enforcing a ban on movement around the unit to contain the spread.
As of now, 11 suspected Congo virus patients, including two women, are admitted to Aga Khan Hospital. Dr. Wahid Rajput, Director of the Infectious Disease Hospital, affirmed that the hospital is fully prepared to treat various infections, although, as of Monday, no Congo virus patient had been brought to the facility.
The Sindh Health Department has issued an advisory alert to hospitals across the province, instructing them to adopt precautionary measures against the Congo virus. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been issued, emphasizing the immediate transfer of patients to infection control isolation units and ensuring safety measures, including the provision of personal protective equipment to medical staff.
The death of Dr. Shukarullah in Karachi, who had been serving at the Civil Hospital Quetta, prompted the Sindh government to issue a red alert and implement stringent measures to contain the virus. The government remains vigilant, emphasizing the importance of adherence to SOPs in all hospitals across Karachi to mitigate the risk of further transmission.
