Getting worse: Dengue patient dies in Pindi

Health officials yet to confirm exact cause of death

ISLAMABAD: As many as 76 cases of dengue fever were confirmed on Thursday in Rawalpindi taking the total number of dengue fever cases reported this year in the city to 1,457.

Meanwhile, a patient tested positive for dengue died at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) on Thursday, however, according to Rawalpindi Health Department officials, the cause of death has yet to be confirmed as the patient was suffering from various other diseases as well.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a health department official said the situation in the city is getting worse every day.

“For the last one month all officials of the health department are working round the clock to control dengue spread but it has become challenging,” said the official.

The situation has become more challenging after the city received rain on Wednesday which has provided more breeding grounds to the dengue mosquito, said the official.

Public hospitals are flooded with dengue patients at present, which has become a threat to other patients admitted at the hospitals.

“People who are suffering from other disease or have weak immune system are more prone to get infected with the disease,” he said.

The official added that so far two deaths by dengue fever have been confirmed which has created panic among people and officials.

Dr Arshad Ali Sabir, medical superintendent at Holy Family Hospital, who has recently been given the charge as EDO (health) Rawalpindi, was unavailable for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2015.