Altaf Hussain Bosan, Hamayun Asghar, Athar Saeed Dill, Faizullah Kakar, Zafar Toor, Arshad Altaf, Arif Sarwari, Amna Rehana Siddiqui.
Crimean congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) outbreak in Karachi.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;41(1):36-8.

A retrospective investigation was conducted in Karachi during November 2000 to determine the cause of death of a butcher and his contacts who were exposed to the body fluids and vomitus of the butcher while he was being treated at the Aga Khan Hospital, Karachi. The Laboratory analysis of blood samples of HCWs at CDC proved the secondary cases as CCHF infection. This is another example of the risk of nosocomial spread of CCHF in a hospital when health care workers are exposed to the body fluids of a CCHF patient.

Case Report: A butcher from Sliah Faisal Colonv Karachi was brought to Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). Karachi with complaints of fever, body aches and bleeding from gums who was admitted on 12th October 2000. He also had severe hematemesis and vomited fresh blood. He was transfused large number of blood bags (approx. 40) 40). These could possibly be blood products such as whole blood, plasma and platelets. Despite all efforts lie could not survive and died on 16th October 2000. Blood sample of the deceased Nvas not tested for Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF). Two health care workers (HCW) of AKUH contracted CCHF from index case when they were dealing and clearing tire blood and vomitus from mouth of the index case. One HCW died on November 3. 2000 and another recovered. A team from National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad conducted a retrospective investigation to determine the cause of the disease; transmission risks among close contacts; and advised preventive measures to the provincial health authorities and community. The blood samples of both health care workers were confirmed as CCHF positive by CDC Atlanta and the blood samples of mother and wife of the deceased were confirmed as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) negative for CCHF and none of them had IgG or IgM antibodies to CCHF when lab confirmed at National Institute of Virology (NIV), South Africa.

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