Unrelenting outbreak: New dengue cases continue to surface

Govt and NGOs conduct awareness campaigns.

MINGORA: The total number of dengue patients reached 8,837 as 33 new dengue cases surfaced in Swat on Sunday.

According to the district health office, the total number of patients includes 6,073 males and 2,764 females. Additionally, 29 new patients were admitted at Saidu Teaching Hospital (STH).

“After the 29 new cases, the total number of patients registered with the hospital mounted to 5,005 while 27 patients were discharged after they made a full recovery,” said Dr Wasil Ahmad, STH spokesperson. He added the total number of discharged patients has reached 4,750.

Dr Ahmad further said 23 patients were suffering from complications and 22 of them, including 19 males and 3 females, were being treated in the intensive care unit.

Meanwhile, awareness campaigns for dengue are being conducted by the government and non-governmental organisations across the district.

Health promotion teams have also been established by humanitarian organisations to tackle the epidemic. The teams are conducting door-to-door campaigns to create awareness.

“Female health experts visited our house two times, they checked our water tanks for dengue larva and taught us precautionary steps against the dengue virus,” said Aleema Mansoor, a resident of Malookabad village.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is also supporting district health authorities to fight dengue in Swat.  “Mobile teams worked along with the health ministry in the most affected villages.

The team conducted door- to-door campaigns to identify potential sources of infection, prevent mosquito larvae from hatching and explain prevention against the disease,” said Mano Carton, field coordinator of MSF Swat.

Carton said 5,071 households were visited for health promotion and 31 trainings were conducted in schools and madrassahs. “Vector control activities through fumigation, solid waste management in collaboration with Tehsil Municipal Administration and water treatment were also conducted in the most affected areas,” she said.

Furthermore, in Shangla district the number of dengue infected patients reached 1,082 as 16 new cases were confirmed in Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Bisham.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2013.