Dengue claims 15 lives in Sindh this year
Dengue patients receive treatment at the isolation ward of Hyderabad Civil Hospital. PHOTO: INP
Total 15 citizens have died due to dengue fever while 3,270 cases have been infected by the vector-borne disease so far this year in the province.
In October, five people succumbed the epidemic caused by the bite of the persons have been died, including three in the provincial capital this month so far.
Health departments said that currently there are 131 sentinel sites in Sindh that are equipped to identify and treat dengue infected patients.
On Monday, in the first meeting over ongoing dengue and vector-borne diseases chaired by Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Pechuho, officials said that March to April is the low transmission season for dengue whereas the high transmission period is August to November.
They said that 1,291 cases of dengue have been reported in October so far. The highest number of cases in the port city were in District East, whereas District Central had a total of 169 cases.
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In the month of October, Hyderabad reported 241 cases of dengue. In 2020, there were a total of 4380 cases of dengue reported and only three people died. In 2019, the total number of dengue cases were 16,925 and 46 people died.
According to the health department, total 675 beds have been set up for dengue patients in the public hospitals of the province. They also said that 58 patients who were severely ill due to dengue were treated in the public hospitals of Sindh.
The minister advised that the areas where there are high incidences of dengue should have a high focus on case response strategies. She also directed that Karachi's clean water tanks, containers, fountains and swimming pools should be surveyed and inspected for incidences of mosquito larvae.
"Buildings under construction must also be inspected for the dengue larvae and sprayed, partnering with local governments," she added.
Despite cases increasing at a terrifyingly rapid rate, sources disclosed that the health department has not initiated public awareness drive to educate the general public to avoid the disease.
It was also learnt that highest number of dengue cases were reported in the private hospital, Aga Khan Hospital with 47 per cent while rest of the dengue cases were reported from other private and public hospitals, the health department's data said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2021.