What news is there on the outbreak of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Pakistan?
WHO reports that the laboratory tests have confirmed three positive and one negative cases out of total of seven that were admitted to hospital in Quetta during the first 17 days of October. However, the report of the three others is still awaited. Meanwhile, WHO is constantly monitoring the situation in close collaboration and co-ordination with the provincial health department and the Pakistan National Institute of Health (NIH). WHO has provided medicines, disinfection and protection material – including masks, gloves, gowns and technical guidelines to deal with cases of CCHF. The bottom line is that while CCHF cases do exist in Balochistan, there is no outbreak per se. An outbreak would tend to indicate large and fast growing number of cases. WHO state that while worrying, there is no cause for additional concern at this time.
