Dengue virus snuffs out three more lives in capital

Over 200 new cases surface in twin cities in last 24 hours

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:

At least three more dengue-infected patients died in Islamabad during the last 24 hours, taking the total death toll in the federal capital to nine.

A total of 205 dengue virus cases were reported in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi during the last 24 hours, health officials said.

According to the health officials, 141 new patients were admitted to hospitals in the federal capital, taking the total infection toll to 2,230.

Islamabad District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem Zia said that since the outbreak of the lethal viral disease, 495 were brought to the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) in Rawalpindi, 125 to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), 27 to the Rawalpindi District Head Quarters (DHQ), 134 to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), 94 to Polyclinic Hospital Islamabad, 250 to the Federal General Hospital Islamabad and 42 were brought to the Capital Development Authority Hospital Islamabad.

The Islamabad DHO said that over 1,000 infected residents of Islamabad visited private hospitals and laboratories in the twin cities. He added that 1,388 dengue cases emerged from rural areas and 842 from urban areas of the federal capital.

In Rawalpindi, 64 more people contracted the dengue virus in the last 24 hours. Of the admitted patients, the condition of 12 patients is stated to in critical condition. Out of the critical 12 patients, 10 were admitted to the BBH.

During the last 24 hours, 26 patients were admitted to the HFH, 22 to the BBH and 16 to the DHQ Rawalpindi. Currently, 233 infected patients are receiving treatment in all three allied hospitals where 274 beds are available altogether.

Read More: 42 new dengue cases surface in Rawalpindi

Rising seasonal diseases

On the other hand, hospitals in the garrison city have started receiving an influx of patients suffering from cold, flu, fever, and cough with the onset of the winter. A large number of children are among these patients, health officials said.

Both public and private hospitals and clinics have seen an influx of patients suffering from viral and seasonal diseases.

BBH former medical superintendent Dr Muhammad Rafiq said that the weather was changing rapidly as temperatures have started to plummet in the morning and in the evening.

He advised the citizens to stop wearing light clothes. He said that people riding motorbikes in the evening and night should wear a jacket and a muffler, besides abstaining from drinking cold beverages.

Dr Rafiq said people should avoid using air conditioners and use bed sheets if they were sleeping under a fan. He suggested the consumption of coffee, soup and eggs for keeping the body warm.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2021.