Number of dengue patients climbs to 23 in Swat

An official at the hospital says 6 new patients had arrived on Wednesday.

SWAT: The number of patients in Swat district suffering from dengue reached 23 on Wednesday evening as six more patients were shifted to the Saidu Teaching Hospital, Mingora from Kabal tehsil.

According to unofficial reports, 23 dengue fever cases have surfaced in the district however Dr Inam, focal person of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Dengue Cell maintained 17 people were infected out of which seven have been discharged after being given complete treatment. The rest are still admitted at Saidu Hospital, he said.

An official at the hospital requesting anonymity said currently 17 patients were admitted in a separate ward under the care of one nurse. He added six new patients were shifted to the hospital on Wednesday evening mostly from Kabal tehsil.

“If the number of patients keeps increasing the hospital would need more equipment and mosquito nets. At the moment we don’t have any for the new patients,” he said, adding a large number of people have rushed to laboratories for diagnostic tests for the disease.

The official also said there was the possibility that the number of infected patients would rise further.

“So far the government has not formulated a plan nor has it sent a medical team to visit the affected area to find out how many people are affected. It has not even launched an awareness campaign against the deadly disease,” he stated.