Daily Toll: Another 176 dengue cases, third unofficial death reported

Dozens of new cases being reported on a daily basis in Punjab.

LAHORE:

Another 176 cases of dengue, including 140 in Lahore, were diagnosed while a third patient, by unofficial count, died of the virus on Monday.

The family and doctors of Osama Ijaz, a resident of Allama Iqbal Town and student of class 10, said he had died of dengue fever, though the Health Department did not confirm his cause of death. The department says one person has died of the disease, but media reports count Ijaz as the third victim of dengue fever.

The Health Department, which gives a daily report on the number of new dengue patients and the number of patients who have been discharged, said that another 176 cases were diagnosed on Monday.

According to Health Director General Dr Aslam Chaudhry, most patients are residents of Defence, Model Town, Cantt and Gulberg. He said the virus was more active in these areas because the mosquito which spread the disease liked to dwell in green areas where water gathers.

The sufferers include Abdul Qadir Gilani, a member of the Punjab Assembly and son of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Dr Javed Akram, owner of Akram Medical Complex where Gilani is being treated, said that he was in stable condition and would likely be discharged on Tuesday.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Sheikh Rohail Asghar is also being treated for the disease at a private clinic. His son Khurrum Rohail Asghar said that his father had been in hospital for four days and was hopeful he would recover.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2011.