A female Aedes aegypti mosquito, distinguised by the white bands on its legs. PHOTO: REUTERS
PESHAWAR: An investigation report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on dengue outbreak in Peshawar has revealed that the presence of a huge number of uncovered water containers used in houses and at workshops is the main reason for the outbreak.
Following the cases reported from Peshawar, a five-member WHO team moved to the city to investigate the reasons behind the dengue epidemic. The team collected samples from two main areas – Tehkal and Gujran Muhalla.
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The report, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, revealed that 87% of the samples collected from 23 water containers in the Civil Dispensary area of Tehkal tested positive for dengue virus. Similarly, 79% of the total 19 samples of water containers in Gujran Muhallah also tested positive.
The report states that these localities have a huge number of wood workshops and motor mechanic workshops with huge quantities of water-holding waste materials.
It was recommended in the report that mosquito repellents like DEET lotion or sprays be provided to families and school children through lady health workers.
Statistics
According to the data compiled by the WHO team, the total number of reported cases exceeded 4,320 which were screened for dengue in the Khyber Teaching Hospital from June 14 till August 17. A total of 699 people tested positive for dengue, of which five have died.
Of the total patients screened, 325 were admitted to the hospital while 200 were discharged. By August 17, a total of 120 patients were admitted to the facility.
Only community awareness can help overcome dengue outbreak
Expert view
Experts believe that early detection and treatment of the disease could lower its fatality rate to below one per cent while delay in treatment could be fatal.
“Dengue is spread through a human-to-mosquito-to-human cycle of transmission,” Punjab Dengue Experts Advisory Board Chairman Dr Faisal Masud told The Express Tribune.
Accompanied by his team, Masud is in Peshawar to help treat dengue patients. “The mosquito is capable of carrying the virus till death,” Masud explained, adding that the virus-carrying mosquito survived only below 42 degree Celsius.
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