Dengue claims two more lives in Rawalpindi

Over 180 new cases of vector-borne disease surface in twin cities

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD:

The deadly dengue virus claimed two more lives in Rawalpindi taking the total death toll to 11 in the twin cities including seven in Islamabad.

According to health officials, 10-year-old Ayan, a resident of Sadiqabad infected with the dengue virus, died at the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, and 36-year-old Mansoor, a resident of Bagh Sardaran, died at the Holy Family Hospital.

Health officials said that 109 cases have been reported in Rawalpindi during the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to 3,442.

Currently, 195 dengue virus-infected patients including 34 from Islamabad were currently under treatment at three allied hospitals in the city has increased to 195. Of the 195 admitted suspected dengue patients, 102 patients were admitted to the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, 66 to the Holy Family and 27 patients were admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital. The number of confirmed dengue-positive patients in the three hospitals has reached 109.

District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Ishaq said that despite the change in the weather pattern, the dengue mosquito continues to strike unabated. He appealed to the citizens to take precautionary measures. He said that spray and fogging were going on in various areas.

District Coordinator of Epidemics Prevention and Control Dr Sajjad Mehmood said that of the newly reported cases 46 were reported from Potohar Town urban area, 16 from Rawalpindi Cantonment, 12 from Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi areas, 10 from Chaklala Cantonment, three from Potohar Town rural, two each from Taxila Cantonment and Gujjar Khan, while one of each case arrived from Taxila city, Kahutta and Taxila rural.

The health official said that the district administration, in collaboration with allied departments, had registered 2,771 FIRs, sealed 623 premises, issued challan tickets to 7,493 violators and imposed a fine of Rs7,797,616 on violations of dengue SOPs from January 1 to date.

Dr Sajjad said that maximum arrangements for treating dengue fever patients had been put in place in all hospitals. He advised citizens to adopt preventive measures and inform the department immediately if dengue larvae were found in their houses and surroundings as the government alone cannot contain the spread of dengue disease.

Meanwhile, 80 more people were diagnosed with the dengue virus in Islamabad on Thursday. According to the Islamabad District House Officer’s office, the number of dengue patients has jumped to 3,423. The DHO office said that of the new cases, 44 dengue cases were reported in rural areas and 36 urban areas of Islamabad during the last 24 hours. The DHO office said that the number of dengue patients has risen to 2,004 in rural areas and 1,419 in urban areas. So far this season, a total of seven dengue virus patients have died in Islamabad, the DHO office said adding that currently, 31 dengue patients were admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, six to the General Hospital Chak Shahzad and 37 were under treatment in private labs and hospitals of Islamabad.

 

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