Dengue outbreak: Disease becoming epidemic in Rawalpindi

Allied hospitals receiving 20 to 25 fresh cases almost every day.

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

It seems the preparedness to face the menace of dengue has slacked as the three government teaching hospitals in Rawalpindi are receiving 20 to 25 fresh cases almost every day.

Dhok Hassu and areas near IJP Road are the worst-hit localities.

According to the surveillance officer of the Punjab Health Department, 250 patients have been tested positive for dengue fever in Rawalpindi this year, with two deaths.

However, Holy Family Hospital (HFH) Medical Superintendent Arshad Sabir said that a total of 722 suspected cases have been reported at the hospital since September, 330 of which tested positive.

This clearly reflects the lack of coordination between the hospital administration and the health department.



An official working with the provincial health department said that the reason behind the outbreak of dengue in Rawalpindi and other cities of Punjab was the ignorant attitude of health officials.

“They all remained busy making arrangements for the elections, and then, because very few cases of dengue fever were reported from the city last year, they thought the situation will remain the same this year and did not take preventive measures,” said the official, asking not to be named.

He said that so far around 900 suspected dengue cases have been reported at the teaching hospitals, but to hide its incompetence, the provincial health department was not disclosing the correct number of patients.

The official said that dengue wards of the allied hospitals were overburdened, as on an average, they receive 200 suspected dengue patients.

On the other hand, patients admitted at HFH criticised the provincial government and district health department, saying that no fumigation has been carried out in their areas.

“Heaps of garbage are lying everywhere, roads are flooded with rainwater and the city has become a hub of mosquitoes, but no one is there to clear the mess,” said Muhammad Ashfaq, a resident of Gawalmandi.

World Health Organisation Senior Surveillance Officer Dr Musa Rahim told The Express Tribune that dengue fever has become endemic in the country.

“The recent cases of dengue fever being reported from Rawalpindi and even from Islamabad are a major cause of concern,” he said.

Rahim said that within a couple of days, the number of dengue fever cases will decline due to the drop in mercury levels.

“After the recent rains, the unhygienic condition in the twin cities provided favourable conditions for mosquito breeding and the result is in front of everyone,” he said.

On the other hand, the situation in Islamabad is not as alarming as in Rawalpindi.

Dengue Surveillance Cell in-charge for Islamabad Dr Muhammad Najeeb Durrani told The Express Tribune that a total of 224 suspected cases of dengue fever have been reported in five major hospitals of capital this year, 168 of which tested positive, with one death.

He said 70 per cent of the dengue patients admitted in capital hospitals so far were from other cities, including Rawalpindi, Swat, Abbotabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2013.