Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever: Samples test negative

The blood samples collected from patients in Ahmedabad, who were suspected to be suffering from Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) tested negative at National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune on Thursday.

Director of the institute Dr AC Mishra refused to specify the number of blood samples tested at NIV. But, the NIV would be testing more blood samples that arrive from Ahmedabad to confirm whether the patients are suffering from CCHF, he said.

A team was sent to collect samples last week after Shelby Hospital in Ahmedabad contacted NIV to inform them about three patients with similar clinical conditions who were not responding to the treatment.

Two of these patients succumbed to their illness.

However, the NIV team collected blood samples from the third patient last Saturday and was examined in Pune the following day.

As per chief medical officer of Ahmedabad municipal corporation, Dr SP Kulkarni, about 70 blood samples were sent to NIV on Tuesday and Wednesday.