Outbreak feared as third case reported in the capital

Polyclinic administration sets quarantine ward of 35 beds

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of dengue outbreak in Peshawar and emergence of the third dengue case in the capital, authorities have decided to take precautionary measures to allay fears of the dengue spread in Islamabad.

Nayyar Abbas, 26, from Gordon Town was admitted to the Federal Government Services Hospital on Saturday and found to be suffering from the disease. Earlier, two more patients from Morgah were also reported to have been admitted for the disease.



Polyclinic administration has established a separate dengue cell comprising 35 beds to quarantine other patients.

In 2016, a total of 2,755 dengue cases were reported in Islamabad. Of these cases, 2,460 patients hailed from the rural areas of the capital city while only 295 cases had emerged from the urban sectors.

With the increasing number of dengue patients in Peshawar, health experts fear that a similar outbreak could happen in Islamabad as well. Due to high mobility of people between Islamabad and Peshawar, there are chances that the virus would spread in the capital, experts said.



They urged the departments concerned to take precautionary measures ahead of the rainy season when accumulation of water becomes a common sight.

ICT Additional District Health Officer Dr Najeeb Durrani said that the next two to four weeks are particularly critical as thousands of people would commute between Peshawar to Islamabad ahead of Eidul Azha.  It is high time for all stakeholders, especially individuals, to take extra care to avoid contact with mosquitoes, he added.

Health alert

Meanwhile the top-doc of Rawalpindi district said September is crucial month for the spread of dengue virus. He warned that the weather will be favourable for the spawning of mosquitoes spreading the disease.



No dengue patient of Rawalpindi was admitted in hospitals and only a single patient from Kotli district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was admitted in a hospital, District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Fayyaz Ahmed Butt said here on Friday.

Presiding over a meeting to review anti-dengue arrangements, he said that from January to August 17, around 600 dengue suspects were brought to the city’s hospitals among them only one patient was tested positive who was discharged after treatment in February.

The CEO warned that September was crucial for dengue spread therefore all departments must be fully alert to cope with any situation, adding Rawalpindi was a sensitive area regarding spread of the disease.

Dr Fayyaz said it was responsibility of every citizen to play his role for controlling dengue by adopting all precautionary measures and taking steps for ensuring cleanliness and removing stagnant water in surroundings.

He warned that stern action would be taken against the staff deputed in the campaign, if found negligent in performing their duties.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2017.