Islamabad: A man infected with the deadly Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) died at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Friday after being misdiagnosed and mishandled at multiple hospitals in Rawalpindi, in a tragic incident that underscores the alarming gaps in Pakistan’s healthcare system’s ability to identify and respond to infectious diseases.
The victim, a butcher by profession of 39 years of age, had initially presented at a private hospital in Rawalpindi with high-grade fever and bleeding from his gums—classic symptoms of CCHF. From there, he was referred to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Rawalpindi.
However, doctors at DHQ, without recording any clinical history or observing proper safety protocols, misdiagnosed him as a dengue patient and initiated treatment accordingly. His condition deteriorated rapidly.
He was then shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi. However, being a civilian, he was refused admission by the hospital administration, his family alleged.
In a desperate bid to save his life, the patient was taken to PIMS in Islamabad on Friday evening, but he died within three hours of admission. According to doctors, his condition was critical and beyond recovery when he arrived at the hospital.
This marks the eighth confirmed death from CCHF in Pakistan this year. Most of these fatalities occurred in the aftermath of Eid-ul-Azha, when a significant number of people come into close contact with sacrificial animals—many of which are carriers of the Hyalomma ticks that transmit the virus.
“This is not just a case of misdiagnosis; it is a failure of the entire system,” said a senior health official. “We are losing lives not because we don’t have the knowledge or guidelines, but because we refuse to follow them.”
Officials confirmed that another patient with CCHF is currently being treated at Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever is a tick-borne viral disease that can also spread through contact with the blood and bodily fluids of infected animals or humans. In Pakistan, the disease primarily affects people who work with livestock, such as butchers, farmers, and handlers in cattle markets.
The Congo virus has a high mortality rate, ranging between 10 to 40 percent, and often leads to severe internal bleeding, liver failure, and shock.
Federal health officials said that despite repeated trainings, refresher courses, and advisories, many healthcare providers continue to ignore standard infection control protocols and fail to take proper medical histories. This leads to misdiagnosis and endangers not only patients but also hospital staff and other patients.
Officials Balochistan health department revealed that last year, a single CCHF patient in Quetta ended up infecting 30 others, including doctors, because he was mistakenly treated as a snakebite victim despite exhibiting clear symptoms of the disease.
In another disturbing incident last year, an attendant brought a test tube filled with the blood of a CCHF patient directly to NIH Islamabad. The patient eventually tested positive, but six of his relatives were kept in the same room under the label of “isolation,” exposing them to the deadly virus due to negligence in infection control.
According to the NIH, Pakistan has reported 34 confirmed cases of CCHF so far in 2025. Balochistan leads with 20 cases and one death, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 7 cases and three deaths. Punjab has recorded 4 cases with two deaths, while Sindh has also seen 4 cases with three fatalities. Most of these cases have emerged after June, following the Eid-ul-Azha festival.
To address the growing crisis, the National Institute of Health issued a comprehensive advisory on April 15, 2025, which was shared with hospitals, provincial health departments, and made available online.
The advisory outlines preventive measures for the public, particularly those working with animals, and emphasizes protective gear, hygiene practices, and early recognition of symptoms. The health ministry has also rolled out awareness materials, conducted media engagements, and initiated community-level campaigns to educate the public on the dangers of CCHF and how to prevent its spread.
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