Could just as easily have been dengue hemorrhagic fever (or even some other illness considering her previous liver disease), and with no samples, we'll never know.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect...abad/suspected-congo-patient-dies-at-pims-300
Suspected Congo patient dies at Pims By Munawer Azeem
Wednesday, 13 Oct, 2010 HERALD EXCLUSIVE
Part II of an interview with Asif Ali Zardari ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: A suspected patient of Congo fever died at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Tuesday, sources in the hospital told Dawn.
Irshad Bibi, 40, a resident of Tarlai Kalan, Islamabad, was brought to Pims’ emergency ward with high fever and bleeding from mouth, nose and gums.
Suffering from liver disease, after examination she was declared a suspected patient of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and shifted to Medical Ward II, a part of which is reserved for the suspected dengue and Congo patients. However, she died within ten minutes after taken to the ward.
A paramedic told Dawn that she was in extremely bad condition when shifted to the ward. He said no samples, including blood, were taken for verifying if the patient had Congo fever because of her brief stay in the ward.
The source said about 60 suspected patients of dengue fever daily visit the emergency ward of Pims and out of them at least five have been tested positive daily in the last two weeks. Apart from Islamabad, the patients are coming to the hospital from Rawalpindi, Murree, Haripur, Chakwal and Havelian.
The patients have high fever along with bleeding from mouth, gums, nose, urine and stool. They also complain of severe bone pain and vomiting blood.
Patients tested positive for dengue fever take five to seven days to recover if they get timely medical help. There are still two patients kept in the Medical Ward-II, getting treatment for fever. Earlier, a patient was discharged from the hospital after recovering from the fever.
The source said Pims has also formed a committee comprising doctors and paramedics to take care of the dengue and Congo patients, besides looking after the staff of the hospital. Medical kits and other necessary instruments have also been provided to the team treating the suspected patients.
Pims Executive Director Prof Mehmood Jamal told Dawn that more cases of suspected dengue fever were coming to the hospital compared to previous year. However, he said no suspected patient of CCHF has come to the hospital. The steps of forming committee and reserving a portion of the ward for the dengue and CCHF suspected patients were precautionary measures, he added.
CHAKWAL: Meanwhile, three more suspected patients of dengue fever have died in Dhudial town, it has been learnt. Shaeen Pathan, who was discharged from the Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi five days ago, died on Tuesday. Tasaddaq and Zaidi of the same town died on Monday. The death toll of suspected dengue patients has crossed one dozen but officials of the health department have only verified one death because of the dengue fever.
Only six persons, Adiba, 18, Robina, 39, Sadiq, 18, Usman, 22, Farzana, and Iftikhar, 35, all belonging to Chakwal city, have been confirmed as patients of dengue fever. “Most patients could not afford private treatment or go to Rawalpindi. That is why their suffering has gone unnoticed,” said Raiz, who lives I Dhudial town.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect...abad/suspected-congo-patient-dies-at-pims-300
Suspected Congo patient dies at Pims By Munawer Azeem
Wednesday, 13 Oct, 2010 HERALD EXCLUSIVE
Part II of an interview with Asif Ali Zardari ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: A suspected patient of Congo fever died at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Tuesday, sources in the hospital told Dawn.
Irshad Bibi, 40, a resident of Tarlai Kalan, Islamabad, was brought to Pims’ emergency ward with high fever and bleeding from mouth, nose and gums.
Suffering from liver disease, after examination she was declared a suspected patient of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and shifted to Medical Ward II, a part of which is reserved for the suspected dengue and Congo patients. However, she died within ten minutes after taken to the ward.
A paramedic told Dawn that she was in extremely bad condition when shifted to the ward. He said no samples, including blood, were taken for verifying if the patient had Congo fever because of her brief stay in the ward.
The source said about 60 suspected patients of dengue fever daily visit the emergency ward of Pims and out of them at least five have been tested positive daily in the last two weeks. Apart from Islamabad, the patients are coming to the hospital from Rawalpindi, Murree, Haripur, Chakwal and Havelian.
The patients have high fever along with bleeding from mouth, gums, nose, urine and stool. They also complain of severe bone pain and vomiting blood.
Patients tested positive for dengue fever take five to seven days to recover if they get timely medical help. There are still two patients kept in the Medical Ward-II, getting treatment for fever. Earlier, a patient was discharged from the hospital after recovering from the fever.
The source said Pims has also formed a committee comprising doctors and paramedics to take care of the dengue and Congo patients, besides looking after the staff of the hospital. Medical kits and other necessary instruments have also been provided to the team treating the suspected patients.
Pims Executive Director Prof Mehmood Jamal told Dawn that more cases of suspected dengue fever were coming to the hospital compared to previous year. However, he said no suspected patient of CCHF has come to the hospital. The steps of forming committee and reserving a portion of the ward for the dengue and CCHF suspected patients were precautionary measures, he added.
CHAKWAL: Meanwhile, three more suspected patients of dengue fever have died in Dhudial town, it has been learnt. Shaeen Pathan, who was discharged from the Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi five days ago, died on Tuesday. Tasaddaq and Zaidi of the same town died on Monday. The death toll of suspected dengue patients has crossed one dozen but officials of the health department have only verified one death because of the dengue fever.
Only six persons, Adiba, 18, Robina, 39, Sadiq, 18, Usman, 22, Farzana, and Iftikhar, 35, all belonging to Chakwal city, have been confirmed as patients of dengue fever. “Most patients could not afford private treatment or go to Rawalpindi. That is why their suffering has gone unnoticed,” said Raiz, who lives I Dhudial town.