Dengue set to be over as winter sets in
A patient suffering from dengue fever sits under a mosquito net inside a dengue and malaria ward at the Sindh Government Services Hospital in Karachi September 21, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS
The dengue season that has been causing havoc in the district for the past three months is set to end on October 31, with dengue larvae unable to survive in the cold thus ending any fears of another outbreak in Rawalpindi and its surrounding areas.
The health department said that no deaths were reported from dengue in the Rawalpindi division this year.
As part of measures, special wards were set up at government hospitals, which would now be dismantled. Hospital administrators said that beds would be kept reserved for patients but the need to designate a ward for patients had passed.
Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi administration has declared the start of the smog season from November 1.
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According to available numbers, dengue patients in government and private hospitals decreased by 60 per cent this year.
Meanwhile, inspections at previously-identified outdoor dengue hotspots revealed that dengue larvae and mosquitoes have disappeared due to the cold.
Health department officials said that mosquitoes had had to find warmer places indoors. In order to mitigate that threat, the health department had conducted sprays and drives targeting hotspots as well as areas inside residences, shops, plazas, multi-storied buildings, and basements.
They said that areas that have poor ventilation and lighting were identified at these locations to spray and fog in order to eliminate dengue larvae. Meanwhile, instruction have been issued to continue anti-dengue spray, fogging in the buildings.
In this dengue season, 13,500 patients were reported by private hospitals while over 15,000 patients sought treatment for dengue at public hospitals. At least 2,700 patients were admitted to hospitals after testing positive for dengue.
At present, there are 56 patients under treatment for dengue at various hospitals.
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Meanwhile, the district administration filed 4,152 complaints over violation of dengue standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the season and sealed 623 properties.
A total of 1,193 challans were issued with fines totalling Rs8,471,800.
The administration said 5,666,486 houses were inspected during the season and dengue larvae were recovered from 47,272 houses.
This year, the areas of Rawalpindi including Dhok Munshi, Chaklala, Gangal, Dhamman Syedan, Takht Pari, Gurja, Dhok Hassu, Satellite Town and Kotha Kalan were dengue hotspots.
They said that with the end of the dengue season, they will return to routine activities from November 1. The health department would continue its dengue campaign while the remaining 22 departments engaged in complementary efforts would cease activity in this regard.
Meanwhile, the DC has issued instructions to prepare a new anti-dengue plan for next year.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2023.