Dengue cases plummet in Pindi

Health experts attribute significant decline in cases to sharp drop in temperatures

RAWALPINDI:

Dengue’s hold on Rawalpindi district has markedly weakened, thanks to a sharp decline in temperature that signifies a decisive turning point in the battle against the disease.

As the vector-borne disease enters its final stage, there have been no reported fatalities in the last few weeks. Over the past 17 days, a mere 20 new confirmed cases have surfaced, and 36 patients currently undergoing treatment are anticipated to be discharged in the coming days.

The surge in dengue cases, which began in March with rising temperatures and peaked during May, June, and July, is now witnessing a decline as temperatures drop since November, marking the conclusive phase of the battle. Health and environmental experts assert that the efficacy of dengue mosquito attacks diminishes with decreasing temperatures, particularly in conjunction with rainfall.

The district has documented a total of 2,653 confirmed dengue cases, with only 20 new cases reported between December 1 and December 17. While 17,000 suspected dengue cases have been identified, over 14,000 of them could not be confirmed as dengue virus cases. Out of the 2,653 confirmed cases, 2,595 patients have successfully recovered and been discharged from hospitals.

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Despite the rapid decline in dengue cases due to weather changes, Dr Ijaz Ahmed, Chief Executive of the District Health Authority, underscores the ongoing importance of the anti-dengue campaign.

This initiative aims to prevent the spread of dengue and raise public awareness to safeguard against future outbreaks. The success of the awareness campaign is considered a pivotal factor in reducing the risk of dengue in the upcoming year.

In the joint dengue ward of the city’s three hospitals at the Red Crescent Hospital, the number of patients is dwindling. Professor Dr Mujeeb Khan, in charge of the Infectious Diseases Department, attributes the decrease in dengue mosquito attacks to the drop in temperature, highlighting that the mosquito becomes inactive when the temperature falls below 16 degrees Celsius.

He emphasises the need for increased public awareness to achieve the complete eradication of dengue.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2023.