Unabated: 34 more diagnosed with dengue

New patients tested positive on Tuesday at Pindi’s allied hospitals.

RAWALPINDI:

There seems to be no respite in the spread of dengue as the city’s public hospitals continue to receive patients from various areas. On Tuesday, 34 patients tested positive for dengue, taking the tally of total patients to over 857, with three people having lost their lives to the virus.

According to the district health department, over 30 patients were reported at the Holy Family Hospital of which 15 tested positive for dengue. Similarly, 16 patients tested positive at Benazir Bhutto Hospital and three at the DHQ Hospital.

Health officials are unable to explain why the virus is spreading on a daily basis despite the fall in temperature.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif again spoke with officials of the district administration through a video link on Tuesday and directed the administration to remove solid waste dumped along Nullah Leh and visit other larva-prone areas throughout the city.

He ordered to seal shops and book owners of places where dengue larva is discovered. He asked the health department to determine why the situation is not returning to normalcy and take appropriate measures to address it.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2013.