Over 3,000 dengue breeding spots identified in Rawalpindi

Authorities expedite anti-dengue campaign after larvae found in various areas

RAWALPINDI:

Authorities have woken up to expedite the anti-dengue drive, as a large number of suspected dengue patients continue to pour into hospitals in Rawalpindi.

A total of 78 people were currently admitted to three hospitals of Rawalpindi and of them, 38 were confirmed positive patients.

Meanwhile, health department teams found dengue larvae of dengue mosquitoes in 2,978 houses and at 231 outdoor spots.

The district emergency response committee was informed that despite a full-fledged anti-dengue campaign, the threat persisted.

The committee was apprised that dengue counters and wards have been established in the Benazir Bhutto Hospital, the District Headquarters Hospital and the Holy Family Hospital and these hospitals have been equipped with testing facilities.

At present, 78 beds were occupied in all three healthcare facilities by confirmed and suspected patients.

Read Dengue onslaught

Among the admitted patients, 38 patients were dengue positive while the remaining were suspected.

The Holy Family Hospital is housing 24 patients, the Benazir Bhutto Hospital seven and the DHQ hospital six patients.

Of the 201 dengue-infected patients, 164 have so far been discharged after the recovery.

The district administration and the health department have started consultation to increase the number of beds in all three hospitals after many cases surfaced in the last one week or so.

Authorities have also advised citizens to remain extra careful and take precautionary measures in the early morning and in the evening to avoid being bitten by the dengue mosquitoes.

The citizens have been urged to wear full-sleeve clothes and prevent the accumulation of water in their homes.

The district administration has asked teams to strictly monitor graveyards, recreational spots, parks, junkyards, tyre shops, hotels and workshops to deny the mosquitoes the ground to breed.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2021.