Faisalabad continues to grapple with chickenpox as two more lives lost

Death toll rises to 23, government fails to take preventive measures

FAISALABAD: The city is grappling with chickenpox, a very contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which has already taken a toll on dozens of lives in Allied Hospital alone.

With two more deaths at Allied Hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with Punjab Medical College, the number of victims has surged to 23 in Faisalabad while the death toll rose to 27 in the province. In wake of the alarming situation, the medical experts are of the view that fluctuating temperature is the main cause of the growth of all types of viruses, especially diarrhoea and chickenpox.



While speaking to The Express Tribune, Medical Officer Dr Ejaz Akhtar said, “With the onset of summer, cases of chickenpox increased by at least 25% to 35%. The chickenpox is a viral infection that causes an itchy, blister-like rash and high-grade fever.” He added, “It is highly contagious and affect people who were not infected with the disease before or vaccinated against it.”



He maintained, “Apart from prolonged fever, such patients also suffer from decreased appetite. They develop blisters and rashes. Clusters of blisters around the trunk and severe itching are quite common symptoms among chickenpox patients.”

Akhtar pointed out that patients with fever should immediately visit a doctor as the virus is highly contagious and is carried through air.

Meanwhile, Senior Consultant Paediatrician Dr Asghar Butt told The Express Tribune, “Parents should keep their children at home in case they contract the infection as it could easily spread to other children if precautions are not taken.”

When contacted, health department officials said during the current season as many as 11,050 cases of chickenpox have been registered in the government-run hospitals alone in Punjab. Of them, the highest number of cases were registered in Faisalabad i.e. 3,494 followed by Sahiwal 962, Lahore 820, Toba Tek Singh 750 and Rawalpindi 505.

There are many more patients who prefer to undergo treatment in private clinics and hospitals due to non-availability of the public sector hospitals indicating the failure of the concerned agencies in taking preventive measures to cope with the deadly disease.



The officials claimed that for the first time, the Punjab government has declared chickenpox as notifiable disease, hence the private hospitals and practitioners have also been asked to report chickenpox cases so as to determine the exact number of patients suffering from the disease and death ratio.

However, When The Express Tribune correspondent tried to contact the relevant health department functionaries regarding cases that are being treated or reported in private hospitals and clinics, they declined to comment on the matter.



A former senior Medical Officer Dr Muhammad Aslam said the symptoms of the chickenpox are aches and headache, whereas spots appear as they develop into small blisters.

He added, “Although the disease could have been controlled, but due to the government’s neglect, a dramatic surge in chickenpox cases has been witnessed.” He said there is a dire need to launch a campaign for creating awareness and educating people about the disease and its vaccination.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2017.