Bhiwandi resident tests negative for Congo fever

Bhiwandi resident Sampat Jain, 48, has tested negative for Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).

BMC sources confirmed that the results of his test by the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, are negative.

“The patient has tested negative for Congo fever,” said Dr GT Ambe, executive health officer, BMC. “He is still on ventilator in the isolation ward at Kasturba.”

The relatives of the patient seemed relieved. “We were really worried about the brain haemorrhage. We will soon decide the next course of action,” said Jain’s son Kiran.

The family has told Dr Pratit Samdani, who first examined Sampat on Friday morning, that they want him shifted out of Kasturba and get him admitted to Jaslok hospital.

“It was obviously not a case of Congo virus. But it doesn’t mean that it is not a viral infection. I would prefer an all-clear from NIV about all the viruses concerned before shifting him back to Jaslok. The patient has shown a strong indication of suffering from a viral haemorrhagic fever,” said Samdani.

“If NIV is able to isolate the virus, it will help diagnose the patients and understand whether we should administer prophylaxis, an anti-viral drug.”

Sampat was referred to Samdani on Friday morning. He had high fever seemed disoriented. He was not responding to the treatment given by the local physician for six to seven days. His MRI scan revealed bleeding in the brain.