Dengue keeps authorities on tenterhooks

The rising number of dengue cases continues to keep administrations of the twin cities on tenterhooks as over 250 suspected dengue cases surfaced in Islamabad and Rawalpindi during the last 24 hours.

According to health and district administrations, a total of 192 dengue positive cases surfaced in the Islamabad Capital Territory during the last 24 hours, taking the total toll of admitted patients in government and private hospitals to 821.

Every effort to contain the spread of the dengue virus and the eradication campaigns have so far badly failed to yield results.

A total of 69 new dengue-positive cases were reported in Rawalpindi during the last 24 hours, taking the total toll to 1052.

According to the district administration, of the 215 union councils in Rawalpindi, 116 union councils have been declared high-risk areas.

As cases continue to rise in Rawalpindi, the provincial health minister, the health secretary and the Punjab Assembly deputy speaker reached Rawalpindi to take an appraisal of the deteriorating situation of dengue in the garrison city. The trio also chaired an emergency meeting at the Rawalpindi commissioner’s office.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Tahir Farooq told the participants that the number of dengue-affected people in Rawalpindi has reached 1,052 and 116 union councils have been declared high-risk areas. He told the meeting that 162,913 hot spots in the city and Cantonment were at high risk. He said that 200 teams were carrying out indoor and outdoor surveillance. The meeting was told that the number of dengue patients in Potohar Town has crossed 600.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Akhtar Malik told the meeting that efforts concerted efforts should be made to control the dengue epidemic at the earliest. He said that all resources should be utilised to control dengue and negligence will not be tolerated in this regard.

Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Wasiq Qayuom said that dengue could be defeated only with the cooperation of the public. He said that more steps were needed to be taken in high-risk union councils.

Secretary Health Dr Irshad said that the dengue surveillance should be further improved with a focus on high-risk union councils and spray should be carried out as per the prescribed SOPs. He said that awareness banners should be displayed on highways and walks and seminars should be organised and no negligence will be tolerated.

A spokesperson for the Rawalpindi district administration said that four more places were sealed for violations of dengue SOPs and 42 cases were registered against violators and 17 points were fined for violations.

He said that dengue cases were spreading due to the alleged negligence of the people. He said that 166 dengue patients were under treatment in various hospitals. He appealed to the masses to keep their surrounding dry and clean to deny mosquitoes breeding ground. The anti-dengue campaign could be effective only by adopting precautionary measures.

Meanwhile, District Coordinator Epidemics Prevention and Control Dr Sajjad Mehmood said on Thursday said that of the new cases, 37 patients had arrived from Potohar Town urban areas, 12 from Rawalpindi Cantonment, nine from Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation areas, six from Taxila Cantonment, three from Potohar rural while one of each case was reported from Chaklala Cantonment and Kahuta.

Dr Sajjad said that 231 patients were admitted to allied hospitals including 83 to the Holy Family Hospital, 75 to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital and 73 to the District Headquarters Hospital. He said that of the total admitted patients, 150 have tested positive. The health officer said that three patients were in critical condition at the BBH.

Meanwhile, Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has fixed a fee of Rs1,800 for dengue tests at private laboratories. Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said that people can get their tests done at IHRA-certified laboratories at discounted rates. He said that the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration was making all-out efforts to keep citizens safe from dengue.

He said that all stakeholders have been taken on board to expedite the anti-dengue drive to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Memon said that wards and beds have been allocated in government and private hospitals for dengue patients.

Additional input from APP

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2022.