KARACHI, Nov 25: Medical experts have dispelled the impression that viral infections could turn into an endemic, saying that cases of haemorrhagic fever have never become an endemic in the history of the country.

They observed that isolated cases of viral haemorrhagic fever were reported almost every year and a few of them were detected as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. In the year 2004, four people died of Congo virus while one patient, brought from Balochistan to Karachi’s Aga Khan University Hospital, suffered from the Congo virus. The man recovered and went back to his native town.

The experts, however, were of the opinion that all necessary precautions should be exercised by doctors, paramedics and attendants of patients while attending a patient suffering from suspect haemorrhagic fever. They said that there were many kinds of haemorrhagic fever, including Crimean-Congo, Dengue, Lassa, Marburg, Ebola, Argentinean, Bolivian, and Korean haemorrhagic fever. In Pakistan, Crimean-Congo and Dengue virus have been found so far.

Giving a break-up of the patients suffering from haemorrhagic fever, provincial Health Secretary Dr Noshad Shaikh told Dawn that 42 cases since September this year had been reported. Of them, 41 landed at the Aga Khan Hospital and one at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. All of them suffered from haemorrhagic fever. The tests of these patients found one of them positive with Congo virus and nine with Dengue virus. The man suffering from Congo virus recovered and was discharged from the hospital. Five of the patients expired but they were infected neither by Cong nor by Dengue virus.

He termed the situation as ‘not alarming’ and maintained that there was no epidemic-like situation viz-a-viz Cong virus. However, he issued directives to all hospitals in the province to take extreme precautions while dealing with a patient suffering from suspect haemorrhagic fever. He also issued directives to all healthcare units to refer patients suffering from suspect haemorrhagic fever to any of the teaching hospitals so that better treatment could be given to the patient.

The health secretary said that a public awareness drive about the haemorrhagic fever and its prevention would be launched on Saturday through the print and electronic media. Besides, seminars on the subject for doctors and paramedics would be organized on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a 14-year-old boy, Sumair, who was admitted to the JPMC a couple of days back with the history of bleeding from mouth, nose, and stool, died early on Friday morning. “We have carried out examination of his blood in two separate laboratories and both the labs reported that the patient suffered from acute lymphoblast leukaemia,” JPMC Director Dr Mashoor Alam Shah said while talking to Dawn in his office.

He said five cases with bleeding from mouth and nose were admitted to the JPMC. Tests of two patients, including Sumair, were conducted and the results showed Congo and Dengue virus as negative. The blood samples of three other patients have been obtained and sent to labs for tests.

Dr Shah said that the cases of haemorrhagic fever were reported every year between September and November and it was a routine phenomenon. “We do not take it serious as the haemorrhagic fever has never spread like an epidemic in the country. All are the isolated cases and most of them recovered and have been discharged from hospitals,” he added.

However, he said that extreme precautions must be exercised while attending such patients until it was established that the patient was not suffering from haemorrhagic fever.

Sindh Health Minister Shabbir Ahmed Qaimkhani said that a three-member committee was formed to ascertain the cause of death of Dr Yusra Afaq, who died at a private hospital last Sunday.

About the strike being observed by 450 house officers in the Civil Hospital, the minister said that their all five demands had been approved. He appealed to the house officers to call off their strike and resume duty in the larger interests of patients.

However, the health secretary said that 60 per cent of the house officers had resumed their duty.