May 22, 2006	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 23, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, May 21: Blood samples of suspected Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) patients admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences were sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) for tests on Sunday.

Seven members of a family living in Dhanni Village of Muzaffarabad in AJK first reported to a basic health unit set up in their village by the International Committee of the Red Cross with complaints of fever and bleeding.

The family — Shaukat Hussain, 40, his wife Shamim, 35, their children Shazan, 9, Faizan, 7, one-and-a-half-year old Rizwan, Ajbah, 4, and sister-in-law Shabnam, 28 — was then referred to a hospital in Muzaffarabad, which sent them to Pims.

However, on their way, Shaukat died at Murree, and his body was sent home.

The rest of the family came to Pims on Saturday night, and all patients were kept in an isolation ward.

Later, the hospital administration allowed Ms Shamim, Rizwan, Ajbah and Shabnam to attend the funeral of Shaukat Hussain.

A doctor at the hospital told Dawn that when the family arrived at Pims, their condition was normal.

However, samples were taken for laboratory analysis. He said four member of the family were allowed to attend the funeral since their condition was stable.

The results of clinical tests conducted at Pims are awaited. Some other tests conducted at the hospital did not show any abnormality. However, samples were sent to the NIH to rule out the possibility of CCHF, the doctor said.

Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever is a tick-borne virus stemming from livestock.

It is transmitted to human beings through open cuts and sores.

It can be passed on by contact with the patient’s blood and other body fluids.