Dengue cases peak in Punjab

Lahore accounts for 186 of 385 new patients

LAHORE:

The highest number of dengue fever cases in a day during the ongoing year in Punjab was recorded on Sunday with 385 new patients registered in the province during the past 24 hours.

The most alarming situation is being faced in Lahore where 186 dengue cases were confirmed, followed by 100 in Rawalpindi and 32 in Gujranwala division.

A rapidly increasing number of patients of dengue fever admitted to hospitals in the province prompted health officials to call for the imposition of an emergency to cope with the situation.

The latest official data shows that the Punjab government is proving helpless to check the spread of dengue fever. Officials of the primary and secondary healthcare department appear disappointed over the continuously increasing number of patients despite preventive efforts.

The situation is worst in the urban centres of the thee populous divisions, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala. The hospitals in the cities are facing a surge in the number of patients under treatment in the dengue wards.

"We received the highest number of patients in a single day in Punjab today. As many as 385 dengue patients were brought to various government and private hospitals of Punjab. Lahore also recorded the year’s highest number of patients in a day as 186 new patients were confirmed in the hospitals,” a senior official of the department told The Express Tribune.

“We are seeing a continuously increasing ratio of dengue cases since last week. The province recorded 229 patients of dengue fever on September 21, 196 patients on 22nd, 272 on 23rd, 226 on 24th and today the number rose to 385. The record proves that the situation is now out of control and there is need that the authorities in Punjab review their strategy and arrangements, especially the dengue surveillance plan,” he stressed.

He also underscored the need to review the arrangements in the hospitals and expand the dengue wards.

“Today’s situation warrants that we should declare an emergency situation in the hospitals for future planning,” the health official added.

He claimed that a major matter of concern was poor planning and action by the district governments that appeared to be ignoring their responsibility of dengue surveillance.

“We identified hotspots of dengue larva in Lahore and advised the authorities to focus on monitoring but there was mismanagement and lack of seriousness on part of the district governments,” he added.

According to official data, at least eight deaths caused by dengue fever have been confirmed in Punjab during the ongoing year. The total number of patients registered in the province during the period is 4,921.

At least 1,126 patients are currently admitted to the dengue wards of hospitals in the province, including 226 in Lahore. The provincial capital has recorded 2,053 dengue cases during the year.

On the other hand, Punjab Health Secretary Irshad Ahmad said anti-dengue measures were continuing in the province and surveillance was also being carried out to cope with the situation.

“A couple of days ago, we checked 70,156 indoor and 16,276 outdoor spots. Health department teams found the larva at 973 spots and removed it,” the provincial secretary added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2022.