Outbreak: Dengue spreads geographically, patient count reaches 49

Two new patients are from a village adjacent to Skha Cheena, this year’s most affected area.

MINGORA:

The number of dengue victims in Swat went up to 49 on Saturday after two more patients tested positive for the potentially fatal virus.

Fawad Khan, 26 and Haseeba Bibi, 20, were brought to Saidu Teaching Hospital with symptoms of dengue and were admitted after their tests were positive.

Both patients belong to Sethi Mills Mohallah, a village adjacent to Sakha Cheena, the most affected area of the district thus far.

Roshan Ali, the focal person of the dengue unit at STH, told The Express Tribune that only four patients are currently in the hospital. “Forty-five patients have made a full recovery and have been discharged,” added Ali.

Residents of Sethi Mills Mohallah have expressed concerns over the district administration’s efforts to prevent dengue from spreading.

They say the administration was aware that a majority of this year’s patients are from Skha Cheena but it still failed to contain it.

Farooq Khan said locals were concerned about the dengue outbreak in the village. However, they were assured that the virus would not spread and larvae elimination drives are being conducted.

Officials of the district administration still maintain they took all appropriate measures to control dengue.

Over the last few weeks, groups of Swat Scouts Open Group have been going door to door in Skha Cheena informing people about precautions to adopt and also eliminating larvae from water stored in houses.

Last year, a widespread dengue outbreak in Swat claimed almost 40 lives, as per official figures. However, the unofficial toll was said to be nearer to 60.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2014.