After exhibiting symptoms of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Sampat Jain (49) was shifted to Kasturba Hospital on Friday morning from Jaslok Hospital.
After exhibiting symptoms of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Sampat Jain (49) was shifted to Kasturba Hospital on Friday morning from Jaslok Hospital. Officials sent samples of the patient's nasal swab and sputum to NIV-Pune on Saturday to confirm whether he has the fever. 
The suspected patient has been admitted to Kasturba Hospital, Dadar.
Pic/ Sayed Abedi
"We received some samples on Friday which were negative but we have not yet received the samples sent on Saturday. The results would be out on Sunday," said Dr AC Mishra, Director of NIV-Pune. So far, all the samples from Mumbai have tested negative, he added.
BMC's executive health officer, Dr GT Ambe said, "Samples of only one patient from Mumbai were sent to the lab. The situation is under control as no one else has been detected with the symptoms of CCHF till now." He added that the patient is being kept in isolation in the ICU at Kasturba Hospital, and appealed to city residents not to panic.
Jain was admitted to Jaslok Hospital after his blood platelet count dropped drastically to 50,000, and he wasn't seen responding to treatment administered by local doctors in Bhiwandi, where he lives.
"We don't think Sampat is suffereing from Congo fever. It could be a haemorrhage stroke due to the high fever. Besides, no one in the family is exhibiting any symptoms of the Congo fever," said a family friend on condition of anonymity.
The disease, also known as Congo fever, has claimed three lives in Ahmedabad over the last few days and has resulted in health authorities screening thousands of people. The fears are justified since the mortality rate of those infected is approximately 30 per cent, with death occurring in the second week of illness. Some of the symptoms of this virus include fever with muscular pain and haemorrhage.
As Ahmedabad is barely 500 km away from Mumbai, the BMC has already sent a circular to all hospitals in the city. Additional Municipal Commissioner, Manisha Mhaiskar said, "We have informed all hospitals to send blood samples of patients to NIV, who come in with these symptoms."
Prevention and control
> Avoid tick-infested areas.
> Examine clothing and skin for ticks, and use repellents.
> Avoid contact with livestock in endemic areas.
> Use barrier-nursing techniques for suspected or confirmed CCHF cases.
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