In a stern response to the alarming surge in Congo virus cases, the Balochistan government has declared a red alert, with the virus having claimed the lives of 16 individuals in the province.

The situation has prompted immediate action, as caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Domki instructed the health and livestock departments to take urgent measures to contain the disease.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister Domki emphasised the importance of promptly disseminating information about the Congo virus to the general public.

He further directed the implementation of anti-viral spray measures in dairy farms to mitigate the spread of the virus.

The minister stressed that individuals displaying symptoms of the virus should receive immediate medical attention.

The urgency of the situation was underscored by the tragic death of a doctor who had been diagnosed with the Congo virus in Quetta.

According to the spokesperson for the young doctors, the patient passed away while being transported to Karachi for medical treatment.

The Fatima Jinnah Hospital in Quetta has been inundated with 41 patients afflicted by the Congo virus this year, and tragically, 16 of them have lost their lives to the disease.

Virus symptoms

The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through ticks found on cattle and other livestock, leading to severe symptoms such as high fever, muscle pain, vomiting, and internal bleeding.

With a high fatality rate and no vaccine or specific treatment available, the outbreak is a growing concern for the region.