No respite: Dengue count crosses 1,200 in Shangla

SHANGLA:

Over a score of dengue cases were reported in Shangla on Monday, pushing the total count of affected people over 1,200 in the district. DHO Dr Mansoor Ahmad said 1,223 people have so far been infected. A lack of fumigation was the major reason for the increasing number of cases, added Ahmad.

He maintained the cold wave has not yet helped stem the outbreak and only a solid strategy to spread awareness among people, along with fumigation, could stop the spread and eliminate the Aedes mosquito. Ahmad appealed to the people to keep their environment clean and ensure garbage does not pile up and roads are cleared of stagnant water.

Meanwhile, according to an official of the Hayatabad Medical Complex, five dengue patients were admitted to HMC. Of these, two are from Swat, two from Malakand and one from Khyber Agency. Seven new dengue patients, all from Swat, were also brought to the Khyber Teaching Hospital. People have criticised the district administration for not carrying out fumigation in various localities where the virus is spreading rapidly.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th,2013.