Health threat: Dengue case confirmed, health authorities alerted

MULTAN:

A 10-year-old child tested positive for dengue fever on Tuesday in Mian Channu, Khanewal district.

Shumaila, a resident of village 3/8-R, was brought to the Mian Channu tehsil headquarters hospital with high fever and joint pain.

Her blood samples were sent for dengue tests two days ago. The tests confirmed that she had been infected with the dengue virus. Shumaila’s father, Kareem Ahmad, told The Express Tribune that she had been suffering from fever for two weeks.

The Khanewal health EDO has appointed Dr Hamid Hussain in charge of dengue ward in Mian Channu tehsil headquarters hospital. An isolation ward has also been set up at the hospital.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Dr Hussain said that most people in the district were unaware of the symptoms of dengue fever. “Anyone who has recurring fever for more than three days should be brought to the tehsil headquarters hospital,” he said.

He said that Shumaila was in critical condition and the next 48 hours were crucial for her recovery.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2014.