Unabated spread: Dengue claims first life in Malakand

Faheema died at KTH where she was shifted in critical condition.

MINGORA/ BATKHELA:

The first dengue-related death from Chakdara in Malakand division was reported on Monday.

Faheema, a student of Matric, died of the fever at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar where she was shifted from Batkhela Headquarters Hospital after she tested positive for dengue, said focal person for dengue virus awareness programme, Dr Yousaf. He added health authorities are focusing on Gulshanabad, Batkhela where the deceased hailed from.

Yousaf said another patient, Gohar Ayub, also tested positive for dengue on Tuesday. He added the total number of affected people in the area has now reached 464.



Meanwhile, the total count of dengue victims in Swat crossed a whopping 9,000 after 13 more patients were identified in the district on Tuesday.

According to the district health office, the number of people affected by the outbreak now stands at 9,008.



Of the new cases, nine patients were admitted to the dengue cell of Saidu Teaching Hospital (STH) after which the number of patients registered with the STH rose to 5,135. “Five patients were discharged from the hospital, taking the number of those cured to 4,937,” said STH spokesperson Dr Wasil Ahmad Khan.

Dr Khan added 30 patients including 26 males and 4 females are presently undergoing treatment in the dengue cell. “Of the 30 patients, two are suffering from complications and have been shifted to the intensive care unit.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th,2013.