155 more patients test positive for dengue in 24 hours

Another patient dies of dengue, six others continue to remain in critical condition

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: The dengue attack continues to trouble residents of Islamabad as 526 patients were brought to Polyclinic Hospital (PCH) over the past 24-hours.

Up to 155 out of the total patients brought during the related period were found to be infected with the virus.

Meanwhile, 27 dengue patients have been discharged from the hospital after successful treatment.

According to the data sheet prepared by Polyclinic Hospital’s dengue cell, during the current season, up to 5,454 patients were brought to the hospital over complaints of the dengue virus. Up to 1,087 patients were found to test positive for the virus. The blood samples of up to 4,367 were declared doubtful.

Furthermore, six patients are currently under treatment in a critical condition while a single death has occurred in PCH from the deadly virus.

The data sheet stated that the hospital has allocated 150 beds for dengue patients out of which 72 are currently occupied. Up to 500 blood samples underwent NS1 antigen test, 72 under dengue serology and 1,281 under complete blood count (CBC) for diagnosing dengue virus.

Dengue in Rawalpindi

The members of Chief Minister’s inspection teams visited Rawalpindi on Saturday and held meetings with officials of the departments taking part in the anti-dengue operation.

More than 157 dengue patients were brought to hospitals in Rawalpindi over the past 24-hours, escalating the total count to 3,935. As many as 62 cases were reported from Potohar Town, a sensitive area with regards to epidemic. Other cases had emerged from Rawal Town and different parts of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB). Furthermore, the influx of patients in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital is underway despite establishment of mobile and filter clinics.

However, the hospital administrations said that treatment facilities were underway according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the dengue treatment plan. The teams of health and other departments are conducting anti-dengue operations on a regular basis under supervision of Health Secretary Muhammad Usman.

Buildings sealed

Teams of Civil Defence Department (CDD) sealed up to 14 buildings over the lack of a fire safety system, and also upon discovering dengue larvae on the premises

Up to 29 building owners were also fined during the operation.

CDD District Officer (DO) Talib Hussain told The Express Tribune that the buildings where dengue larvae was found or those that were lacking fire safety equipment were all sealed. He added that the operation will continue on Sunday as well.

In view of dengue outbreak in Rawalpindi, the leaves of staff in all three Allied Hospitals including Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) have been canceled till November 30.

According to a handout from Vice Chancellor of RMU, the leaves of faculty members, doctors, nurses, clerical and paramedical staff of Rawalpindi Medical University and all three Allied Hospitals have been cancelled and the staff have been ordered to attend their duties as usual in view of the rising number of patients suffering from dengue fever.

According to the order, no staff member will avail leave except in emergency reasons after permission from the competent authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2019.