LODHRAN: An Elite Force personnel, a resident of Saadullah Pur village in the district, has been diagnosed with Congo virus, according to doctors.

District health department focal person Dr Amir Shabbir told Dawn on Thursday an Elite Force commando, Muhammad Saleem, a resident of Saadullah Pur village near Lodhran, had been sick since May 9 and got treatment at a local private hospital but could not get cured.

Later, he said, Saleem was shifted to the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) where he tested positive for Congo virus.

Dr Zakir Ali told Dawn it was the first Congo virus case of 2019 at the BVH, adding that the patient had been admitted to the hospital’s isolation ward.

“We decided to also conduct tests of those involved in Saleem’s treatment (at Lodhran) before he was brought to the BVH and of his primary contacts to check lest they too were affected,” Dr Ali said.

Dr Shabbir said a team of the district health department also visited Saadullah Pur village, examined Saleem’s relatives and sensitised them about Congo virus.

“We collected the samples of 35 people -- 20 relatives of the patient, eight primary doctors working at the private hospital where he was first admitted and his seven colleagues and sent these for tests,” Dr Shabbir added.

Dr Ali said that Congo virus could be traced through tests at least 13 days after a person got infected by it.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2019