Battle continues against dengue, diphtheria

More than 58,000 dengue positive larvae sites reported from Lahore in 2015

LAHORE:

During 2015, there were several public health emergencies in the provinces. The Health Department tried to contain outbreaks of dengue and diphtheria and overcrowding at hospitals.

The year saw a record number of diphtheria and dengue cases. A polio case was also registered. The Punjab government stepped up its immunisation campaign.

As many as 36 deaths were officially recorded due to diphtheria and dengue between January and December 2015. Patients of both diseases overwhelmed the health infrastructure in the province.

According to official records, 155 cases of diphtheria were reported in the Punjab. Out of the patients, 28 died. In Lahore, 55 children suffering from diphtheria were brought to the Children’s Hospital. Out of these, 18 died.

Most of the deaths were blamed on a shortage of the diphtheria antitoxin. However, Health Department officials said that the outbreak was under control and the required vaccine had been imported.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice and constituted a committee to investigate the deaths. The results of the inquiry are yet to be presented to the chief minister.

The Health Department and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), Pakistan also took steps to increase immunisation coverage in the province, especially in areas where diphtheria cases were reported. The EPI also proposed that the dose of diphtheria vaccine be increased.

A surge in dengue patients was also recorded in 2015, with more than 4,300 registered cases. Rawalpindi saw an outbreak of dengue with the highest number of patients, 3,289.

According to the Health Department data, there were 360 cases in Multan and 119 in Lahore. In 2014, around 1,350 cases were registered.

The Health Department claimed that it had brought the outbreak under control. It said that the situation had been normalised with a 99 per cent improvement recorded in the Punjab. Most cases were reported in four areas of Rawalpindi: Rawal Town, Chaklala Cantonment, Saddar Cantonment and Potohar Town. The Health Department said that a lack of awareness was the major reason behind the outbreak.

The Dengue Expert Advisory Group (DEAG) monitored the situation using a system introduced by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).

Surveillance activities were carried out to identify dengue larvae sites. More than 58,000 larvae sites were reported from Lahore district.

The department said that more than 1,600,000 containment activities were performed in 2015. In Rawalpindi, 8,000 containment activities were being carried out daily.

In Lahore, around 1.6 million children below the ages of five will be administered polio drops by the EPI during 2016.

During 2015, paramedics also held protests demanding a better service structure.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2015.