RAWALPINDI: The pathological test of three doctors and a ward boy at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) were declared negative for Congo fever by National Institute of Health (NIH) on Thursday. However, the report for the nurse is still pending.

Shoaib Ahmed, 32, a resident of Talagang, was admitted at HFH on July 2 after being diagnosed with Congo Crimean Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and died last night.

Know more: Man from Chakwal dies of Congo fever

HFH Incharge Infectious Diseases Dr Javed Hayat told Dawn that the hospital took precautionary measures and quarantined the staff working with the patient. Their blood samples were sent to NIH to test for presence of the viral fever.

Luckily, they are all out of danger, Dr Hayat said, adding that the reports of the nurse will arrive on Friday.

CCHF is transmitted from animal to human by pest-bites or direct contact with the blood of infected animals.

As a precaution, such patients are dealt with extreme care using gloves and breathing masks, said Dr Hayat.

In 1976, Dr Mateen of Central General Hospital (now Benazir Bhutto Hospital) died while treating a CCHF patient. Similarly, Dr Farzana, 25, died while treating a patient in 2002.

In 2010, eight members of HFH staff contracted the fever; however, they survived due to early diagnosis and treatment.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2014