Health dept fears multifold increase in dengue cases
The Rawalpindi district administration registered 2,225 FIRs on violations of anti-dengue standard operating procedures (SOP) from January 1 to date in various areas of the Rawalpindi district, the district coordinator for the Epidemics Prevention and Control department said on Sunday.
Giving details of the punitive actions, Dr Sajjad Mehmood of the district health authority said that the district administration, in collaboration with allied departments, had sealed 466 premises and issued tickets to 718 others. A fine of Rs 34,53,000 has been imposed over violations of dengue SOPs so far this year.
Dr Mehmood said that 261 confirmed cases had been reported in the district this year. “Currently, 80 patients are admitted to the city's allied hospitals. Of those, 50 are confirmed cases.”
He added that no patient had died so far while 195 patients had been discharged.
During the last 24 hours, 16 more cases were reported. Eight premises were sealed during that time, with 69 new FIRs registered and six tickets issued.
He said that the number of dengue patients had increased gradually in Rawalpindi during the week. Five to six patients were reported daily last week which has increased to 15 to 18 patients daily this week, he said. “If the situation persists, it can increase to 70 patients daily in September,” he warned.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2023.