KARACHI, Aug 7: A woman, who according to doctors is a confirmed Congo virus positive case, has started showing signs of improvement at the Civil Hospital Karachi.

The medical superintendent of the CHK, Dr Kaleem Butt, said that the patient, who was brought to the hospital for the first time on Saturday evening, was responding to treatment and her blood platelets count, which had decreased drastically at home due to viral infection, was found increasing. We have administered her so far two mega platelets units, after which her counts are around 93,000 now, added Dr Butt.

According to doctors, Sumaira, 22, a resident of Arab Muhalla, Baldia Town, suffered a high grade fever over 12 days back. After keeping her under treatment of a doctor in her area, her husband and other family members took her to a nearby private hospital as she was not responding to the treatment at home.

At the private hospital, the doctors keeping in view her history of fever and blood vomits decided to conduct some blood test as well. One of the sample tested at a major private hospital confirmed that she was affected with Congo Crimean viral hemorrhagic virus.

At the Civil Hospital, doctors at the emergency ward examined the patient and on the basis of the private hospital’s report of a confirmed Congo fever case and patient’s history and symptoms, doctors, including those from medical ward-5 of the CHK, decided to shift Sumaira in the isolation ward of the hospital.

Dr Butt said the patient was under high observation and as per an assessment made on Monday afternoon, he could say that patient’s overall condition had improved now and she was also responding to antiviral treatment.

Her liver and kidneys and other organs are functioning normally, he added.

It was further learnt that blood samples of the patient in question had also been sent to the NIH Islamabad for reconfirmation of Congo. A two- month son of Sumaira is also suffering fever, who will be brought for a check-up at the CHK on Tuesday, said a source at the hospital.

Humans can suffer CCHF or Congo fever as it is more commonly referred to, if they acquire infection from infected tick or from contact with fresh, infected blood and tissues of livestock or humans.

According to doctors, the patient presents with flu-like symptoms, headache, fever, muscle pain, especially lower back pain, cold shivers and hot sweats. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain may also be noted.

The patient can bleed from any organ, from the bowel leading to the vomiting of blood, or the passing of stools containing fresh or dark altered blood, bleeding from the nose or gums, or bruising of skin, bleeding into muscles, or oozing from injection sites.