Outbreak: Dengue threat worsens as 14 more test positive

Health alert issued in all state-run hospitals, health authority recommends more anti-mosquito spraying

RAWALPINDI: The dengue threat is getting more alarming by the day in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad as 14 more patients admitted at the state-run Allied Hospitals have tested positive for the disease on Thursday.

The majority of the patients belong to Tarnol in Islamabad, health department sources told Daily Express. All patients have been moved to the quarantine wards set up in the Allied Hospitals.

The district health office has recommended speeding up anti-dengue spray and surveillance in Tarnol and Taxila areas, while alerts have been issued at the state run hospitals.

District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Khalid Mehmood responding to Daily Express said that the number of patients have declined compared to past years.

He said that the health department is regularly conducting anti-dengue spray and is also carrying out surveillance in the residential and commercial areas on a daily basis.

Dr Mehmood said that people store water in drums and containers in the water-scarce areas, which helps in spawning of the dengue mosquitoes.

The areas declared sensitive for dengue outbreak include Pirwadhai, Dhok Dalal, Dhok Najjo, Safdarabad, Bangash Colony, Ratta, Dhok Ilahi Bux and  Dhok Khabba in Rawalpindi city.

In Rawalpindi Cantonment Board limits, Ward no. 7, Ward no 5 and Ward no. 2 have been declared sensitive for the spread of dengue virus. The number of dengue patients in Nogza Road area in the dengue department is high this year, followed by Tarnol. According to the figures, in 2016 Dhok Madhu in Islamabad was worst hit by dengue outbreak and in 2017 Bhara Kahu reported highest number of dengue patients.

Meanwhile, according to official figures, during the past 24 hours, 14 patients have been tested positive with dengue, raising the number of patients to 156 admitted in the government-run hospitals, however those in private facilities remain unaccounted for.

Among the 156 dengue patients, 49 were from Rawalpindi city, 33 from Rawalpindi Cantonment, 57 from Islamabad, four from Attock, two from Safdarabad and one each from Jhelum, Sargodha, Chakwal and Sindh, besides five from K-P and two from AJK.

Hospital sources said that scores of people are being tested for dengue daily at government hospitals and as the reports show, the number of patients is increasing.

“The reality of all the actions taken by the authorities for dengue-control have been exposed,” said a health department official requesting anonymity.

The residents of the twin cities said that the sprays used by the department have become ineffective. The number of mosquitoes right after the usage of the spray makes its quality questionable. The health department has also been reported to have not visited several residences in the twin cities.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2018.