Three more deaths reported from dengue

MINGORA: The unofficial death toll from dengue reached a staggering 47 after three more people died of the virus in Swat on Tuesday.

Asma, 7, a resident of Manglawar; Faisal Khan, 25, resident of Banr, Mingora; and Umar Ali, 28, from Ser Taligram were identified as the deceased. The official number of deaths, however, stands at 26.

According to the district health office, 90 more patients with dengue have been identified across Swat, taking the total number of affected people to 7,959, including 5,462 males and 2,497 females.

Moreover, 85 new patients were admitted to Saidu Teaching Hospital (STH), after which the total number of registered patients rose to 4,258. “Sixty-eight patients were discharged, taking the number of cured patients to 3,957,” said STH spokesperson Dr Wasil Khan. He informed 177 patients are presently being treated at the hospital. “Twenty-five patients, including 20 males and five females, are suffering from complications and are in the intensive care unit.”

One critically ill patient was referred to Lady Reading Hospital, added Dr Wasil.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2013.