Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever deaths in Karachi rises to 20, Rabies death toll rises in Sindh

By NewsDesk @bactiman63

Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

The Pakistan Observer reports the 20th fatality due to Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Karachi Monday. Health officials issued a health alert due to CCHF this past July.

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is advising hospitals to adopt special precautions for a CCHF affected patient, including the establishment of special wards for patients, and run awareness campaigns about the virus.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family. The CCHF virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 10–40%.

Animals become infected by the bite of infected ticks and the virus remains in their bloodstream for about one week after infection, allowing the tick-animal-tick cycle to continue when another tick bites. Although a number of tick genera are capable of becoming infected with CCHF virus, ticks of the genus Hyalomma are the principal vector.

The CCHF virus is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter. The majority of cases have occurred in people involved in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians. Human-to-human transmission is possible.

‘Brain-eating amoeba’: 16th death reported in Karachi in 2019

Rabies

A 18-year-old man from Nooriabad in Jamshoro died Sunday from rabies, according to a Samaa.TV report. This is the 22nd human rabies death to be reported in Sindh this year.

The report states:

He had been bitten on the leg by a stray dog three months ago, after which he did not receive the anti-rabies vaccination, according to JPMC Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali. His family was also not aware of the importance of getting vaccinated after a dog bite, she added.