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Congo Virus Claims Lives Amid Eid Butchering, Public Alert Issued
Congo virus (CCHF) claims 5 lives in Karachi & KP after Eid. Health officials warn public to take urgent precautions. No vaccine available. Spread through tick bites & infected animal blood.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-19
Congo Virus Claims Lives Amid Eid Butchering, Public Alert Issued

Karachi / Peshawar – Pakistan has reported multiple deaths linked to Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), commonly known as Congo virus, with five fatalities confirmed just days after Eidul Azha celebrations, raising alarms across the country.

Karachi Reports Two Deaths from Congo Virus

In Karachi, 25-year-old Zubair, a fisherman from Ibrahim Hyderi, became the second reported fatality due to CCHF in Sindh this year. Zubair had served as an occasional butcher during Eid, slaughtering animals on June 7–8 without safety precautions. He developed symptoms including high fever, headache, and muscle pain on June 13 and died on June 20 after being transferred between multiple hospitals due to unavailability of ICU beds.

A day earlier, a 42-year-old man from Malir had also succumbed to the virus. According to Sindh Health Ministry’s coordinator, Meeran Yousuf, he was admitted at Indus Hospital and tested positive for CCHF on June 16.

Health officials report that both victims had visited cattle markets and were involved in slaughtering animals. Investigations and contact tracing are underway, and daily surveillance alerts for 35 diseases are now active across Sindh.

Three Deaths Confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Health Adviser Ehtesham Ali confirmed three CCHF-related deaths. Two patients from Karak — 28-year-old Aizaz and 70-year-old Shafiullah — died at Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC). A third victim, Naik Shad from South Waziristan, was brought dead to the hospital.

“These lives could have been saved through timely care and public awareness,” said Ali, stressing the need for strict adherence to health guidelines during Eid. Contact tracing and home sanitisation are ongoing.

What is CCHF (Congo Virus)?

According to the World Health Organization, CCHF is a severe viral hemorrhagic disease with a case fatality rate between 10–40%. There is no vaccine available. The virus is primarily transmitted via tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood/tissues, especially during slaughter.

National Response & Advisory

Earlier in April, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) had warned of potential CCHF outbreaks during Eid and issued precautionary advisories. In light of recent deaths, the Public Health Department and Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System (IDSRS) are conducting surveillance, awareness campaigns, and interventions in affected districts.

Authorities urge the public to:

·       Use protective gear when handling animals

·       Avoid direct contact with blood or tissues of slaughtered animals

·       Seek medical care immediately upon symptoms like high fever, body aches, or bleeding

·       Cooperate with health teams for tracing and sanitisation

Health officials emphasized that public vigilance and preventive action are the only defense against further loss of life.
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Pakistan

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