November 06, 2023       This photo shows Pakistani security personnel standing guard as an ambulance drives past in Quetta. — AFP/File

QUETTA: A doctor diagnosed with the deadly Congo virus and a suspected patient under treatment at the Fatima Jinnah Hospital died on Sunday.

According to the hospital administration, the patient had been brought to the hospital in critical condition from the rural area of Hazaraganj.

The death of the stricken doctor occurred during his transportation to Karachi for treatment, according to a spokesperson for the young doctors. As per a spokesperson for young doctors, the patient’s life was lost while en route to Karachi for specialized medical treatment.

This year has seen a surge in Congo virus cases with at least 41 patients admitted to the hospital, resulting in 17 fatalities.

Health department sources cite similar outbreaks in the late 1980s and mid-1990s, which claimed numerous lives.

Meanwhile, the Balochistan government on Sunday issued a red alert in response to the escalating threat posed by Congo virus fever within the province.

In a proactive measure, Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Domki has directed the health and livestock departments of the province to take immediate and decisive action to curtail the spread of the virus.

Under his guidance, efforts have been initiated to promptly disseminate critical information about the virus to the general public and measures for anti-viral spray applications in dairy farms have been set in motion.

Authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary actions to mitigate the risk and protect the population from this deadly virus.

The red alert issued by the Balochistan government signals a heightened state of vigilance and underscores the urgency of coordinated efforts to combat the Congo virus with public health and safety at the forefront of the provincial priorities.

The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through ticks infesting cattle and other livestock, resulting in severe symptoms, including high fever, muscle pain, vomiting and internal bleeding.

This year the Fatima Jinnah Hospital in Quetta has seen 41 patients admitted due to the Congo virus with 16 of them succumbing to the disease.

Meanwhile, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has expressed his deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of doctor Shukrullah. The CM stated that he was grieved over the untimely death incident due to Congo virus. Doctor Shukrullah by laying down his life has set an example to serve the grief-stricken humanity, he said.

The CM stated that he salutes all the doctors who are busy in treating the Congo virus patients.