On the rise: Three more tested positive for dengue in Rawalpindi

Patients are admitted to the Holy Family Hospital

RAWALPINDI: Three more dengue positive cases were reported here on Saturday, taking this year’s toll to 37.

Doctors at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) confirmed that three patients, who were admitted to the hospital and whose blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Health, have been tested positive.

Adil, who works at the HFH’s Burn Unit and was admitted to the hospital on August 17, has been tested dengue positive, according to hospital sources and doctors, who confided to The Express Tribune.

Similarly, Tanveer, a resident of F-Block in Katarian, who was admitted to the hospital, was also tested dengue positive. The third patient, Nazeer Ahmed, who reached Rawalpindi from Karachi three days ago, has also been confirmed dengue positive.

Thirty seven dengue cases have so far been reported at the HFH, at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital and the Rawalpindi District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ).

Doctors and health officials have warned that dengue cases could substantially surge in September and October, stated to be an ideal time for dengue breeding.

Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Labour and Manpower Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Punjab chief minister’s adviser on dengue Dr Waseem Akran, Rawalpindi Commissioner Azmat Mahmood, District Coordination Officer Talat Gondal and other officials held a meeting on Saturday to take stock of the situation and to thrash out a strategy to double the anti-dengue efforts to stem the virus.

Sarwar noted that the next two months were very crucial in fighting the dengue.

He urged all departments to take coordinated steps to control the spread of dengue.

The minister said that the steps laid down by dengue experts needed to be enforced to eliminate the larva.

The Rawalpindi commissioner expressed satisfaction over the performance of the district health department vis-à-vis the anti-dengue drive.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2016.