Four doctors contract chickenpox at Mayo Hospital
Government hasn’t provided protective gears to the doctors
Patient has blood drawn at a hospital. PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
Chickenpox may be a common disease among children, but its affects can terribly affect adults as well.
At least four doctors of the Mayo Hospital contracted the illness while treating patients, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Dr Tooba Mehmood, who is suffering from the disease, said patients are visiting the hospital and even doctors have contracted the disease. “At least four of us have already fallen prey to the illness, while the government is unable to give protective gear to doctors,” she said.
Two more die of chickenpox in Faisalabad, toll hits 14
“People who have never had chickenpox should be careful and wear a mask daily as a precautionary measure,” she advised.
Dr Abid Mehmood, a United Kingdom-based public health specialist, said wearing an ordinary mask does not prevent the exposure to the varicella virus and doctors need to wear the N95 variety.
Chickenpox can be infectious and symptoms how themselves two or three days later. “Varicella can be a serious infection during pregnancy,” he added.
Dr Qazi Mumtaz, a senior paediatrician, said it is a highly contagious disease and can spread through saliva, mucus or contact with the blisters of the infected person. “The virus can also be transmitted through the air by coughing or sneezing.” People who have never suffered or been vaccinated can easily contract it, he said. The doctor added that though it is a common disease among children, adults can be terribly affected. “The disease can lead to death due to co-morbidity.”
Chickenpox has claimed 19 lives this year, confirms health dept
The doctor stressed that patients with symptoms of high fever, rashes on the body, vomiting and stiffness in the neck should immediately be referred to a hospital for proper treatment.
According to the health department, at least 19 deaths were reported in different districts of the province. Around 1,591 cases of chickenpox have been reported in Punjab, of which 821 were from Faisalabad district alone. In Lahore, 86 cases were reported, while there were six in Chiniot, 11 in Nankana Sahib, 189 in Toba Tek Singh and 185 in Sahiwal. In Gujaranwala and Multan, one case was reported from each city.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2017.
Chickenpox may be a common disease among children, but its affects can terribly affect adults as well.
At least four doctors of the Mayo Hospital contracted the illness while treating patients, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Dr Tooba Mehmood, who is suffering from the disease, said patients are visiting the hospital and even doctors have contracted the disease. “At least four of us have already fallen prey to the illness, while the government is unable to give protective gear to doctors,” she said.
Two more die of chickenpox in Faisalabad, toll hits 14
“People who have never had chickenpox should be careful and wear a mask daily as a precautionary measure,” she advised.
Dr Abid Mehmood, a United Kingdom-based public health specialist, said wearing an ordinary mask does not prevent the exposure to the varicella virus and doctors need to wear the N95 variety.
Chickenpox can be infectious and symptoms how themselves two or three days later. “Varicella can be a serious infection during pregnancy,” he added.
Dr Qazi Mumtaz, a senior paediatrician, said it is a highly contagious disease and can spread through saliva, mucus or contact with the blisters of the infected person. “The virus can also be transmitted through the air by coughing or sneezing.” People who have never suffered or been vaccinated can easily contract it, he said. The doctor added that though it is a common disease among children, adults can be terribly affected. “The disease can lead to death due to co-morbidity.”
Chickenpox has claimed 19 lives this year, confirms health dept
The doctor stressed that patients with symptoms of high fever, rashes on the body, vomiting and stiffness in the neck should immediately be referred to a hospital for proper treatment.
According to the health department, at least 19 deaths were reported in different districts of the province. Around 1,591 cases of chickenpox have been reported in Punjab, of which 821 were from Faisalabad district alone. In Lahore, 86 cases were reported, while there were six in Chiniot, 11 in Nankana Sahib, 189 in Toba Tek Singh and 185 in Sahiwal. In Gujaranwala and Multan, one case was reported from each city.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2017.