The Infectious Disease Hospital. Picture by Sachin

The city has registered its first case of Congo haemorrhagic fever. Ara resident Himmat Singh Yadav (33), diagnosed with the disease while in Gujarat, returned to his home state and is being treated at the Infectious Disease Hospital inside the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital premises.

The Congo haemorrhagic fever, caused by a tick-borne virus, spreads to humans through contact with unhygienic animal blood or tick bites. It gets transmitted through contact with infectious blood or body fluids. The Telegraph spoke to experts to know about Congo haemorrhagic fever, its symptoms, prevention and other aspects.

What is Congo haemorrhagic fever?

It is a disease, caused by tick-borne virus. It mainly occurs and spreads among animals but could even strike those who deal in animals or work in slaughterhouses.

What symptoms accompany it?

Symptoms similar to dengue, like high fever, skin haemorrhagic features (rashes on skin), body-ache, swelling. Patients’ platelet count dips considerably and they suffer from dehydration. Stomach pain, vomiting, internal bleeding are other symptoms.

What precautions should one take?

It is a highly infectious disease. People should not have any body contact with one suffering from the disease. Even patient’s clothes should not be touched. It is advisable to completely isolate patient. This is difficult to achieve at home, so hospitalisation is best.

Do doctors treating patients need to take any precautions?

Doctors who come in contact of Congo haemorrhagic fever patients have to wear a personal protection set, which includes apron, gown, cap, face mask and eye protection to ensure they do not contract the disease. Doctors treating Ebola patients, too, need to wear this set. Doctors and microbiologists looking after Congo haemorrhagic fever patients at the Infectious Disease Hospital have been provided with the set. Besides, microbiologists and pathologists who collect blood samples of patients too need to be very careful. A little laxity in handling the blood sample can transmit the virus among them. A three-layered protection needs to be ensured before one collects blood sample from a suspected patient. A three-layered plastic container is used to collect blood. Blood is kept in the innermost container. The middle one has ice and the outermost is a protective layer.

Is Congo haemorrhagic fever deadlier than Ebola?

No, Ebola is more dangerous than Congo haemorrhagic fever. However, if Congo haemorrhagic fever is not diagnosed early and treatment does not start soon, the patient could infect other people after which controlling the disease would be difficult. The fatality rate is around 20 to 30 per cent.

What is the treatment for Congo haemorrhagic fever?

There is no particular treatment. Doctors give symptomatic treatment. They check if the patient’s blood platelet count has dipped drastically and whether he or she has any dehydration problem. Platelet-rich plasma is infused into patients and they are also kept on fluids to control dehydration.

Where should Congo haemorrhagic fever patients go for treatment in Patna?

The Infectious Disease Hospital at Agamkuan is the best place as it has proper isolation ward for infectious diseases. PMCH and NMCH also claim to have isolation wards, but are not fully equipped to deal with the situation.