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Thursday June 19, 2025

Sindh records first Congo fever case of year

42-year-old patient died a day after testing positive for CCHF in Karachi on 16th, says health department

By Muhammad Abrar Khattak & Shawwala Aslam
June 18, 2025
A representational image of a tick carrying Congo virus. — Reuters/File
A representational image of a tick carrying Congo virus. — Reuters/File

Sindh has reported the first case of the Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) of 2025 in Karachi.

A patient infected with the virus passed away after contracting the disease.

The provincial health department said in a statement that a 42-year-old man, who was a resident of Karachi's Malir, contracted the Congo virus. He tested positive on June 16 and died the next day.

The CCHF is caused by the Congo virus, which is found on a tick that attaches itself to the skin of cattle. People who come into contact with these infected ticks or animals can contract the viral disease, which is highly contagious and has a 40-50% mortality rate.

Moreover, two individuals were also tested positive for the CCHF in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Karak district, the KP health department said.

Dr Qudratullah said that both patients were receiving treatment in a Peshawar hospital and their condition is stable.

The onset of CCHF is sudden, with initial signs and symptoms including headache, high fever, rashes, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, and vomiting.