Dengue claims one more life

Over 150 new cases reported in Islamabad and Rawalpindi during last 24 hours

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:

The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have steadily been witnessing an upsurge in dengue virus cases with one death and over 150 new cases reported during the last 24 hours.

The surge in dengue virus cases is offering a tough time to the administrations of the twin cities, where teams have been carrying out campaigns to cull the larvae with intermittent spray and fogging.

According to Islamabad District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia, one more dengue patient died on Tuesday, taking the total death toll to four in Islamabad this season.

He said that 75 new dengue cases were reported in Islamabad during the last 24 hours, taking the total number of patients to 743 in the federal capital.

Dr Zia said that of the 75 dengue patients, 54 cases were reported in rural areas and 21 people in urban areas. He said that the total number of dengue patients in rural areas of Islamabad has reached 478 and 265 in urban areas.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital’s dengue ward in charge Dr Shajeeh Siddiqui said that they needed more beds to cater to the needs of the growing number of dengue patients.

He said that 56 dengue patients are under treatment at the PIMS hospital. Dr Shajeeh said that two wards have been reserved for dengue patients at the PIMS hospital and arrangements have been put in place for blood CP as patients suffer from low platelets and white blood cells.

Patients with dengue fever symptoms were being admitted to the wards, he said adding that a dengue counter has also been set up at a health centre in Chak Shahzad.

PIMS hospital spokesperson Dr Shaffat Khatoon said that a large number of children and pregnant women were also suffering from the dengue virus.

She said that 56 dengue patients were under treatment at the PIMS hospital and so far 200 patients have been discharged after treatment. She said that the dengue wards and counters were flooded with suspected patients and around 500 patients visit the hospital daily.

The spokesperson said that about 900 blood CP and biochemistry tests of patients have so far been carried out. While talking about the causes behind the rise in dengue cases, she said that the prolonged monsoon season has exacerbated the dengue spread as people of all ages are affected by the virus with children and the elderly being most vulnerable.

Polyclinic Executive Director Iftikhar Naro said that 50 beds have been reserved for dengue patients. He said that a dengue fever clinic and a lab have also been established for conducting tests smoothly while a separate OPD has also been established for dengue patients. “Dengue test kits have been procured locally, which will be delivered to the hospital today,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi’s three major hospitals have witnessed an extraordinary increase in the number of dengue patients with 205 patients under treatment with five in critical condition.

Health authorities said that around 52 dengue patients from different areas of Islamabad have also been admitted to Rawalpindi hospitals. They said that of the total admitted dengue patients, 148 were from different areas of Rawalpindi and five from Attock, Haripur and Poonch Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to health officials, the total number of dengue patients in the district has reached 928. They said that of the 76 total patients under treatment at the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, 43 patients were dengue positive. They said that of the 50 patients under treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi, 30 were dengue positive. Similarly, of the 75 patients under treatment at the Holy Family Hospital, 42 patients have been tested dengue positive.

Health authorities said that once landed in the hospital, a blood CP test of the patient is carried out, after which, a full test of a suspected patient was carried out.

They said that all necessary medical tests for dengue patients were being carried out free of cost in all government hospitals. Sources said that a majority of dengue patients landed in Rawalpindi's three hospitals hail from Cantonment areas, Dhamman Syedan and Chak Jalal Din. So far, they said, one dengue patient has lost his life in Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has accelerated its ongoing anti-dengue campaign. According to an RCB spokesman, all available resources were being utilised to eradicate the dengue larvae. He said that dengue larvae have been found in houses where water main lines were choked, in water tanks, old tyres, water-filled and uncovered utensils and accumulated rainwater.

However, he added, that the RCB was clearing stagnant water and nullahs besides carrying out indoor and outdoor spray and daily surveillance.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2022.