September 20, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 19, 1429

QUETTA, Sept 19: Three people have died here of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), commonly known as Congo virus, during the last two weeks. Several others have been admitted to the Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital.

“We received a new case of the disease just this morning. The patient belongs to Zhob district,” an official of the hospital told Dawn on Friday.

He said the patient --- Rozi Khan, 22 --- was bleeding when he was brought to the hospital. Six patients had been brought to the hospital from Loralai and Zhob and of them three had died.

“One of the patients died yesterday.” The condition of Shah Wazir, of the Murgha Kibzai area of Zhob district, was quite critical when he was brought to the hospital, he added.

Two other patients died last week. They belonged to Loralai.

The virus, first isolated in the African country of Congo, is carried and transmitted by ticks. Hospital sources told Dawn that all the victims of CCHF were shepherds.

Around a hundred people have died of Congo virus in Balochistan’s Zhob, Loralai and other districts in two years.

The health department has set up an isolation ward in the hospital for such patients.

A team of specialist doctors has also been sent to Loralai, Zhob and other affected areas to identify and then assist patients.