KARACHI: An owner of a cattle pen in the Cattle Colony died of Congo Crimean Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) on Saturday, the first death in Sindh because of the deadly tick-borne virus this year, officials said.

Sabir Majeed, 37, was admitted to a private hospital with a severe fever, shortness of breath and haemorrhage two days before he was pronounced dead by doctors on Saturday.

“It was the first case of CCHF in Sindh this year,” said an official in the provincial health department.

He said the victim caught the viral disease through a tick found on animals.

“Butchers or those who deal in livestock are likely to catch the deadly virus,” said the official, adding that there was no vaccine available to prevent people from falling victim.

Experts said in some rare cases across the world the disease was reported to be spread from human to human.

Sixteen people were afflicted with CCHF last year in what was described as a 15-year high. Of the 16 people, six lost their lives.

The city reported a single case in 2013 and five cases of CCHF, including four shepherds who shifted to Karachi from Balochistan in 2012.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2015

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