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| October 28, 2005 | Friday | Ramzan 23, 1426 |
Disaster body told patient not suffering from CCHF
ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: The National Disaster Management Committee was told here on Thursday that a patient evacuated from Bagh (AJK) by a WHO team on suspicion of Congo Crimean Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) was not suffering from the deadly disease.
“The patient was wrongly suspected of having CCHF by some volunteers working in the district,” the meeting was informed.
About the blood situation, Health Secretary Anwar Mehmood informed the meeting that there was no shortage of blood in any of the blood banks established by the health ministry. Besides, a blood bank, set up at Batagram had started functioning from Thursday.
Expressing concern over reports coming from different quarters regarding shortage of Anti-Tetanus Globulin, the participants of the meeting observed that there was no shortage of the vaccine in any of the health facilities treating quake victims, and that all hospitals in the twin cities as well as field hospitals had been provided the vaccines as per their demand.
In view of health problems and risk of spread of diseases, it was decided that health messages, including those on prevention of diarrhoea and promotion of hygienic feeding of milk to orphan infants, would be disseminated through all available media channels in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, a suspected CCHF patient, admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), was found to be suffering from renal failure after laboratory tests.
Blood samples of Asghar Hussain, 35, a resident of Murree, had already been sent to South Africa for CCHF test.
Quoting the victim and his family members, sources said Mr Hussain suffered multiple injuries in October 8 earthquake, and was later shifted to Pims by some rescue workers. After his condition got stable, he was sent home where his family members sacrificed a goat as ‘Sadqa’ and applied its blood to his wounds for his early recovery, they added.
Later, when Mr Hussain contracted high fever with bleeding through nose and urine, and had difficulty in breathing, he was shifted to a medical camp at Bagh.
His symptoms and the history of animal blood applied to his wounds, made the doctors suspect that he was suffering from Congo fever. Later, he was shifted to Pims, where his blood CP, Urine R/E, liver and other tests showed no signs of Congo virus. The Pims administration said the patient was suffering from renal failure.
The patient was shifted to Medical-II bed III, an isolated ward of Pims. Blood samples of some doctors and paramedical staff who treated Mr Hussain have also been sent to South Africa for CCHF test.
Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever is associated with a tick-borne virus stemming from livestock. The virus is transmitted to the body through open cuts and sores. It can be passed on through contact with the patient’s blood and other body fluids.
SAUDI DELEGATION: A Saudi delegation, comprising Saudi Red Crescent President Dr Saleh Al Twaijri and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh Aserri, called on Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan and pledged all out support to the people of Pakistan in the wake of earthquake.
The delegation told the minister that 120 million Riyals had so far been collected as donation for earthquake relief in Pakistan in response to a Saudi Television telethon.
Two flights with relief goods are arriving daily from Saudi Arabia. And, a 50-bed field hospital established by the Saudi relief team is functioning in Manshera, said the ambassador.
Saudi government was to provide support to the tune of 500 million Riyals for rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, said Dr Twaijri.
The delegation asked the health minister to apprise them of any further requirement of relief assistance which would be provided immediately. The health minister thanked the Saudi government on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan for its support in the wake of the devastating earthquake.
Later, a multinational pharmaceutical company’s managing director Tahir Iqbal handed over a cheque for $250,000 to the health minister for rehabilitation of quake victims.
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