A 17-year-old boy has died of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), commonly known as Congo virus, in Karachi marking the first reported death due to the virus in Sindh this year, health officials said on Thursday.
The deceased teenager was a resident of Tando Muhammad Khan. He had tested positive for the virus a day earlier and was under treatment at the Infectious Diseases Hospital where his condition deteriorated and he could not survive.
According to the hospital authorities, the teenager was brought to Karachi with high fever and bleeding symptoms, which were consistent with the advanced stages of the infection. His clinical condition remained critical despite medical intervention.
Health officials said the patient was involved in livestock handling, raising strong suspicion that the infection was acquired through contact with animals or tick bites known to transmit the virus.
Medical experts explained that CCHF was primarily transmitted to humans through bites of infected ticks found on animals, particularly cattle, goats and sheep, or through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected animals.
Human-to-human transmission can also occur in healthcare settings if infection prevention measures are not strictly followed. The death has been reported ahead of Eidul Azha, a period associated with increased movement, trading and handling of sacrificial animals, which, experts say, significantly raises the risk of transmission.
Doctors have urged the citizens to adopt precautionary measures, including wearing gloves while handling animals, maintaining personal hygiene, avoiding direct contact with animal blood, and seeking immediate medical care in case of symptoms such as sudden fever, body aches or bleeding.
Sindh health authorities said the situation was being closely monitored and surveillance had been heightened, whereas the public had been advised to strictly follow safety guidelines to prevent further infections.
