Up North: In Hazara, dengue patient dies

50 more under observation.

HARIPUR: The health authorities on Wednesday confirmed the death of a dengue patient from Abottabad. Meanwhile, 50 suspects of the disease are being kept under observation and six of them with decreased platelets were admitted to hospital.

Muhammad Khursheed, 62 and a resident of Ghehriyan village, was admitted to a local private hospital with symptoms of dengue, which was later diagnosed by a blood test. The patient was referred to Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad, where he died on Tuesday.

Dr Bilal, Deputy Executive District Officer Health, confirmed the report and said that 50 blood samples have so far been tested both at NIH and private labs; of these 11 samples tested positive for dengue, 14 came back negative and they are still waiting for the results of the remaining samples.

This is the second death from dengue in Hazara. The first death was reported last week in Mansehra.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2011.