Rajasthan on alert after woman dies of Congo fever
What's the story
A 51-year-old woman from Jodhpur, Rajasthan has died of Congo fever at an Ahmedabad hospital. The National Institute of Virology in Pune confirmed her diagnosis after her death. Following the incident, the medical and health department in Rajasthan has issued guidelines for disease prevention and protection across the state. Suspected and symptomatic patients in the area have been asked to be traced and kept in isolation. Notably, Congo fever is a zoonotic viral disease, which is caused by tick bites.
Disease control
Rapid response team deployed to prevent further infection
Meanwhile, Public Health Director Dr Ravi Prakash Mathur has directed the Chief Medical and Health Officer of Jodhpur to send a rapid response team to the affected area. The Rajasthan government has also asked the Animal Husbandry Department to take necessary steps to prevent and control Congo fever. All private and government medical institutions have been directed to collect samples immediately from any person showing symptoms of Congo fever for examination, and inform the medical department about such cases.
Health alert
Monkeypox scare in Rajasthan turns out to be chickenpox
Earlier, a 20-year-old man was suspected to be infected with the monkeypox virus in Rajasthan. The man, who had traveled to Jaipur from Dubai, was sent to RUHS hospital after rashes were found on his body during a health check-up at Jaipur airport. However, tests in Jaipur revealed that he was suffering from chickenpox, not monkeypox as initially feared.