Ahmedabad's CCHF patient cured, leaves hospital

Rehman Hussain, the husband of first Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) victim, Ameena Momin, was on Thursday morning, discharged from hospital after recovering fully from the infection, thus becoming the first survivor of the deadly virus.

Rehman was admitted to Sterling Hospital on January 16 after drastic deterioration in his physical condition, just a few days after the death of his wife Ameena, who died suddenly because of the then unknown virus.

His blood platelet count, on January 17, was recorded at 17,000 per cubic microlitre as against the normal range of 1 lakh to 4 lakh. The doctors, though still not aware of the exact virus that was causing rapid physical deterioration, continued providing antibiotics to Rehman.

Fortunately for Rehman, the virus was soon diagnosed, and doctors were able to adapt the treatment protocol accordingly. Rehman responded well to the treatment, as his physical condition, including the vitals, recovered from the effects of the near-fatal virus, which has a mortality rate of 30% to 90%. He was finally discharged from Sterling Hospital on Thursday morning, after spending 11 days in isolation. Authorities at the hospital said they were pleased that they could save his life.

“It is a breakthrough, and we are happy to have been able to successfully rid Rehman of the virus, more so, because initially we did not even know what it was. The CCHF virus in his body is dead and he is free of the infection,” Dr Kamlesh Patel, consultant microbiologist and in-charge of infection control department, Sterling Hospital, said.

Patel said that they had taken all precautions to ensure that Rehman’s infection did not spread. He said that since the cure for the virus was now documented, there was no need for citizens to panic.

Meanwhile, the animal husbandry department collected 101 serum samples from livestock in nine more villages in the vicinity of Kolat on Thursday. The villages were recently identified for expanding the anti-virus drive in more areas.

Dr AJ Kachhiapatel, director, animal husbandry department, said the samples will be sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for testing. He said that they are awaiting reports of similar samples sent earlier. The state health department has discontinued the drive in and around Kolat. The department’s director Dr Paresh Dave said this is because there is no active transmission of CCHF virus in humans now. He, however, added that they will continue to closely monitor the situation.