KARACHI: The deadly Congo virus has so far claimed at least five lives in Karachi, but public hospitals in the metropolis appear ill-equipped to battle with the emergency.
According to sources, isolation wards have not been established at any public-sector hospital in Karachi, and it appears that health officials have not yet taken the situation seriously.
Isolation wards have so far not been established at the Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre, Civil Hospital, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, or any other major public sector health facility.
Sources said administration at different public sectors hospitals are converting Dengue wards into Congo isolation wards, which is in contradiction to international standard operating procedures to prevent the spread of the dengue tick-borne disease.
Meanwhile, the health department has so far also not distributed any gloves, jackets, and any other mandatory safety accessories for the handling of Congo virus patients at public-sector hospitals.
The Crimeanâ€"Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a widespread viral disease that is commonly spread by ticks found on hairy animals.
The situation needs extra attention with Eid-ul-Azha approaching just around the corner, with cattle markets being set up across the country for public to buy sacrificial animals for the religious occasion.
According to Deputy Director JPMC Dr Javaid Jamali, citizens should takes extra precautionary measures while buying sacrificial animals and ensure that they clean their animal with chlorine water and not touch the blood during animal sacrifice on Eid.
So far, five people have died from Congo virus in Karachi hospitals. According to officials, three of the patients belonged to Bahawalpur, one from Karachi, and another was from Afghanistan.
The last victim was identified as a cow-seller and had arrived from Bahawalpur 25 days ago.
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