Dengue cases rising

At least 5 fresh cases of dengue were reported at Pims and 1 fatality at SIH during last 48 hours.

ISLAMABAD:

At least five fresh cases of dengue were reported at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and one fatality at the Shifa International Hospital (SIH) during the last 48 hours.

So far this season, 304 suspected cases of dengue fever have been registered in six major hospitals of the capital. Of this, 237 have tested positive and one death has been reported. Meanwhile, in light of the recent spike in cases, the capital’s deputy commissioner has imposed section 144 in the city as a preventive measure to avoid providing a favourable atmosphere for the dengue-carrying Aedes aegypt mosquito to breed.

Talking to The Express Tribune, In-charge of the Dengue Control Cell Dr Muhammad Najeeb Durrani said data regarding dengue patients has been gathered from Pims, Polyclinic Hospital, Capital Hospital, SIH and KRL Hospital. He said 70 per cent of the cases have been reported from Rawalpindi while the rest are from nearby districts. Currently, 36 patients are admitted in these hospitals and are stable, he said.

He claimed that most of the cases reported in Islamabad are those from urban areas, adding that so far more than 200 larva sites have been identified in the capital.

Meanwhile, sharing details of the patient who died on November 4, he said the patient was admitted at Shifa and had tested positive.

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