Sindh reports first Congo fever death of 2025

Sindh has confirmed its first death from Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) this year after a 42-year-old resident of Karachi’s District Malir died just a day after testing positive, according to the provincial health ministry.

The patient was admitted to Indus Hospital in Korangi on June 16 and passed away the following day.

A health team later visited his residence, but found it locked. “It is believed the family took the body to their native area for burial,” a health official said. 

CCHF, more commonly known as Congo virus, is a severe viral illness with a fatality rate ranging from 10 to 40 percent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The virus is typically transmitted through tick bites or contact with the blood or tissues of infected animals, particularly during slaughter. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through direct contact with infected bodily fluids.

There is currently no vaccine for CCHF. In light of the upcoming Eidul Azha, the National Institute of Health (NIH) had issued a public advisory in April, warning of an increased risk of transmission due to heightened animal handling.

CCHF symptoms begin suddenly, including high fever, muscle pain, dizziness, neck stiffness, backache, sore eyes, and sensitivity to light.

On Tuesday, a separate case of the virus claimed the life of a 22-year-old animal handler in North Waziristan. He died at Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar.