Under Section 144, private hospitals have been ordered not to charge more than Rs90 for a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test, which is required to ascertain the presence of the dengue virus in a patient.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has warned of stern action against doctors who are exploiting patients by charging more than the prescribed fee.
A total ban has been imposed on washing cars in the streets to avoid accumulation of water in residential and commercial areas.
Residents have been also been asked to keep their water reservoirs covered.
Sharif has directed the concerned authorities to implement these directives immediately and a helpline has been set up to register and resolve people’s complaints.
(Read: Tackling dengue — too late, too little)
Dengue death toll rises to 39
Seven more patients have died as a result of dengue in Punjab and Khyber-Pahtunkhwa, bringing the total number of deaths to 39.
Five people succumbed to the virus in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and two died in Lahore today.
The virus has spread at an exponential rate, with around 627 cases reported in the past 24-hours. The total number of dengue patients in Punjab has crossed 5,000.
Prisoners, staff at jails in Lahore infected with dengue
Dozens of prisoners and staff members at jails in Lahore have been affected by dengue.
Sources said more than 25 prisoners at Kot Lakhpat Jail have been infected with the virus. Three prisoners are reported to be in critical condition and have been shifted to Services Hospital.
A team of doctors from Services Hospital has reached Kot Lakhpat Jail to treat the prisoners.
Staff and prisoners at Camp Jail have also been affected by the virus.
COMMENTS (21)
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@Saad Durrani: thank Allah for your repeieve.....dengue can be fatal,.....google for dengue deaths......
@strange: My mom, my sister, and my dad (who had it twice) survived Dengue. The media is reporting every possible cases. Out of a several thousand cases, only few sadly die.
@lobe did rehman malik say that????
The Complete Blood Count (CBC) in no way “is required to ascertain the presence of the dengue virus in a patient”. Far from it, it may indicate the presence of the virus by demonstrating a fall in platelet count. The test that can ascertain the presence of the virus is the Dengue IgM which is a marker for active infection and Dengue IgG which is a marker for past infections.............................THIS IS TOTALLY RIGHT.PUNJAB GOVT SHOULD ALSO TAKE ACTION ON THE PRIVATE HOSPITALS CHARGING LOTS OF MONEY IN EMERGENY PROCEDURES.they also should print the rates of surgical procedures,lab tests,emergency charges on reception.as many many hospitals in cavalary and defence charge hell of money and even dont give dead body bback unless charges are cleared.we expect punjab government to take strict action.atleast AKRAM MEDICAL COMPLEX should provide free consultation and treatment.
Kahdim e Alaa ... bohat alaa
if no corrupt , no docs attys needed at low fee
Pak air force should be brought in to control the situation the should use their F 16 and JF 17 to bring the foreign sponsored mosquito down.
Health Ministry of Punjab needs to be locked up one and all ...minister needs to be sacked .
@Saad Durrani: have you ever contracted this disease.....??? I was down with dengue last year and I thank Allah that I survived....and mind you there are 4 different strains of Dengue each with different effects....moreoever there is simple dengue fever, then dengue hamorregic fever and then dengue shock syndrome....the last two are the deadliest and most dangerous...we have 10000 reported cases and 20000 unreported cases so far in Lahore......becuase not all patients end up with platelets below 40 and internal bleeding....only those patienst are being admitted whose platelets are below 100....so you can see the reported admitted numbers are far less than actual....and you say that it is media hype.....God forbid this fever is so painful, dreadful...only the one who has it...knows how bad it is.....others will only sway their heads in negation and say" acting na karo....its only fever".......
@oops: mind you the suspending machine is having the health ministry as additional portfolio....!!!!
Thats really fantastic They done someThing And atleast they going to deal with this is really positive step from govt I will really appreciate
@VoK:
Shame on you to joke over the death of other human beings.
Does the Mosquito know the meaning of 144. If they still come together then what?
The best practice should be to Quaranteen the city. Till the time that this epidemic burns itself out. That is what the Prophet (PBUH) taught...!
is there anyway to suspend the health minister of punjab...???? ooops....!!!!
@vok.......hahahahhaha....atleast its a start.....they're also spraying everywhere......
I am not sure what kind of measure is this. Next, they might ask you not to drink water. The situation is not alarming as it is being reported. Dengue is a treatable disease and its mortality rate is quite low. Furthermore, can someone please explain why car-washing would be cause of the spread of the virus? It is spread due to stagnant clean water. Last I check, cars dry up and the water goes into the drain.
Congratulations!!! Now that section 144 has been imposed, gathering of 4 or more mosquitoes is prohibited and will help in controlling the spread of dengue.