Three Deaths from Congo Virus Reported in Pakistan as Health Authorities Step Up Response

Pakistan has recorded three deaths from the Congo virus (Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, CCHF) in recent days, with two fatalities reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and one in Karachi, Sindh province. The latest victim in Karachi was a 25-year-old fisherman from Ibrahim Hyderi, who had been involved in animal slaughter during Eid celebrations and began showing symptoms—including high fever, muscle pain, abdominal discomfort, coughing, diarrhea, bleeding, and loss of consciousness—on June 16. He was admitted to Jinnah Hospital and later transferred to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital, where he died on June 19.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, health officials confirmed that two patients from Karak district and one from North Waziristan succumbed to the virus. The province’s Health Adviser, Ehtesham Ali, attributed the outbreak to a lack of precautionary measures during Eid, when animal markets and slaughter activities increased across the region. He urged the public to strictly follow health guidelines and exercise caution when handling livestock.

Health authorities in both provinces have activated surveillance and response systems, including contact tracing and sanitization efforts at the homes of the deceased. In Karachi, a team from the health department was dispatched to the affected area, and all close contacts of the victims have been identified and are under observation. No additional cases have been reported among family members or close contacts so far.

The Congo virus, which is transmitted through tick bites or contact with infected animal blood or tissues, has a fatality rate ranging from 10% to 40%, according to the World Health Organization. There is currently no approved vaccine for CCHF.

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