Dengue emergency declared in Pindi

The local administration and health authorities have declared a dengue emergency in Rawalpindi due to the continuous increase in the number of dengue patients.

Under this emergency, special anti-dengue wards have been set up in allied hospitals of Rawalpindi and 240 beds have been allocated for dengue patients. Special doctors, nurses and paramedical staff had also been deployed to these wards.

According to the health department, 100 beds have been allotted at the Holy Family Hospital, 100 beds at the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital and 40 beds at the District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi. Eight HDU beds have also been provided in all three hospitals for critical and serious patients.

The health department said that the number of suspected dengue patients was increasing with each passing day.

The number of confirmed dengue positive patients in Rawalpindi jumped to eight in the last 36 hours. All joining areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Union Council Dhok Hasso and Kamalabad had been declared hotspots for dengue larvae. The highest number of dengue larvae had been recovered from these areas in the last two months. However, all the areas from where dengue patients were reported in the last five years have also been declared hotspot areas.

The number of mobile teams have also been increased to search and detect the dengue larvae.

The Rawalpindi deputy commissioner also issued a warning that action would be taken against members of the anti-dengue team if they remained absent without permission. Orders have also been issued to third parties to expedite the search for the dengue larvae.

As the pre-monsoon season is going to start on June 15, the district administration has declared the upcoming season ideal dengue larvae.

The deputy commissioner has issued orders to focus on stores, under construction buildings, water tanks, and junkyards to eradicate dengue larvae.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2022.