KARACHI: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has claimed the life of a septuagenarian man at a private hospital in Karachi, taking the total death toll caused by the deadly infection to 10 reported so far this year in the city, officials said on Saturday.

They said Ghulam Ali, 70, a resident of Naushahro Feroze district died of CCHF at the Liaquat National Hospital this week. Besides, a 25-year-old patient was battling for life at another private hospital of the city suffering from a similar infection caused by a tick found on animals.

Brought in a critical condition to the private hospital, Ghulam Ali died within a few hours of his arrival.

Officials at the Sindh health ministry said the number of deaths caused by the deadly tick-borne disease had climbed to 10 this year.

Four of those deaths occurred in the first two weeks of the current month due to increased interaction between humans and livestock on the occasion of Eidul Azha.

Shoaib Ahmed, 25, a resident of North Nazimabad, has been tested positive for CCHF and is fighting against the disease.

CCHF is a lethal viral infection that is transmitted to humans from animals, especially livestock.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2019