KARACHI: A woman and a man died of Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in the city last week, Sindh health authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

They added that another patient, suspected to be the victim of the same deadly disease, was admitted to the Civil Hospital Karachi’s intensive care unit.

They said they got confirmation on Tuesday that the two deaths were caused by the CCHF.

Nasreen Faiz, 57, a resident of the Defence Housing Authority, was first of the two victims, who died of the CCHF on Thursday. The other victim was Akhtar Jamal, 45, a resident of Orangi Town, who died on Sunday.

“We have got confirmation that both the patients died of the CCHF,” said Dr Zafar Ejaz, city health director, while speaking to Dawn.

Officials said a 22-year-old man was lately admitted to the CHK. His tests for suspected CCHF were performed and the authorities were waiting for the result.

Dr Ejaz said the authorities had launched investigations to find the causes of CCHF infliction. However, he suspected that the deadly tick might have afflicted the victims during Eidul Azha celebrated last month.

The city has recorded six CCHF cases this year. The previous four patients were successfully treated.

Officials said every CCHF victim caught the viral disease through the bite of an infected tick found on animals.

Those infections are also associated with the slaughtering of infected animals and from contaminated needles etc.

Experts said the infection’s fatality rate was up to 50 per cent.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2015

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