Outbreaks: Seven dengue patients hospitalised

ABBOTTABAD: At least seven patients suffering from dengue fever were brought to Ayub Teaching Hospital (ATH) in Abbottabad.

A hospital official privy to the development told The Express Tribune 18 people, including children, were brought to the facility during the last three days. They were suffering from high-grade fever and orbital and body pains. “They were brought to ATH from different parts of Mansehra and Abbottabad,” he said. “An initial blood screening was carried out which showed they had dengue.”

According to the official, 11 patients were discharged after initial treatment while seven were still being treated.

“They all are in stable condition,” a medical officer told The Express Tribune. “They are likely to be discharged over the next couple of days.”

A large number of dengue cases have been reported in Malakand Division as well. At least 50 suspected cases of dengue were reported at the district headquarters hospital. This was said by Dr Tanveer, focal person for the dengue prevention programme, on Wednesday. On the other hand, 15 dengue patients were received at a hospital in Batkhela on August 18. Out of these, two were women.

Most of these cases were reported from Gulshanabad, Sharifabad and Dir areas. Water shortage and lack of hygiene are the main cause of the dengue virus.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2016.