No end in sight : Another dengue patient dies

Toll in Rawalpindi soars to at least five

RAWALPINDI: Another dengue patient died on Sunday at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) taking the total number of deaths this year in Rawalpindi to five. 

Talha Mehmood, 21, a resident of Satellite Town was brought to the hospital in a critical condition.

Over 2,000 patients have been tested positive in the twin cities for dengue, with more cases being reported from Rawalpindi and the suburbs of the capital.



Talking to The Express Tribune earlier, Dr Muhammad Salman, focal person on International Health Regulations in Pakistan, had said that this year Pakistan is not the only country where a massive outbreak of dengue fever has been reported as over 20,000 cases have been reported in India, Sri Lanka, and other countries.

Talking to APP, Executive District Officer Health Arshad Ansari said anti-dengue drives should be further strengthened by focusing on union councils, from where dengue cases are being reported.

He said out of 46 union councils of Rawal Town, 20 had been completely fumigated and the remaining would also be secured soon.

Earlier, Punjab Minister for Labour and Manpower Raja Ashfaq Sarwar had said that a slightly downward trend in dengue cases had given a sigh of relief to health authorities.

Despite the rains and a subsequent drop in temperature, no clear relief is in sight. An official at the district health department had said a further drop in temperature would also slow down the activities of the dengue mosquito.

Dengue cases started emerging in the city early this year, but the situation was not taken seriously. It has turned into a massive outbreak by year’s end, as Rawalpindi reported highest number of cases in Punjab this year, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2015.