183 new cases of dengue in Lahore

The Punjab health department says 183 new cases of dengue virus have cropped up in Lahore in the last 24 hours.

LAHORE: The Punjab health department on Friday said that 183 new cases of the dengue virus have cropped up in Lahore in the last 24 hours.

According to the Punjab health department, 11 cases have been reported from other areas of Punjab on Friday bringing the total number of dengue patients in the province to 1,359.

Dengue fever is proving to be a severe threat in Punjab as an increasing number of cases are being reported from there, especially Lahore which had 690 reported cases of the total 823 cases in Punjab by Monday.

Reports say that the health department is responsible as it has struggled to control the virus with various cities in Punjab reporting cases of the deadly virus daily.

Lahore's health officials are under severe pressure to perform as the district coordination officer has warned of more suspensions of health officials if the epidemic is not brought under control.

The health department has also been blamed for not disclosing adequate information about the virus to the media to help spread awareness.

Sindh is the hardest hit province with over 1,600 cases reported by Wednesday but, unlike Sindh, in Punjab a majority of the patients are concentrated in Lahore.