Dengue incidences spike in twin cities

The number of dengue-positive patients in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has grown to 11, according to Pakistani health officials.

They estimate that there are already 199 suspected dengue patients in the two cities, with seven cases in Rawalpindi and four in Islamabad having been confirmed as positive for the virus.

Dengue cases were not reported between January 1 and May 31 in 2019 or 2020, according to a report submitted to the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner by the district health officer. However, two cases were reported between January 1 and May 31 in 2021, compared to seven cases this year during the same period.

Since January 1, dengue larvae have been discovered in 1224 Rawalpindi locations, according to the study, and other hotspots are being monitored.

At the Holy Family Hospital, 74 suspected dengue patients have been admitted, 43 to the Gujar Khan Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, 20 to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Kotli Satian, 20 to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Taxila, 15 to the Wah General Hospital, nine to the Kahuta Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, eight to Kallar Syedan, and one to the District Headquarter.

By concentrating on junkyards, cemeteries, open ponds and under-construction structures, Rawalpindi deputy commissioner Tahir Farooq has given stern directives to mobile teams.

All dengue mobile teams have also been instructed to conduct daily inspections of roofs, water tanks, and animal and bird utensils in their respective districts.

It was clarified that the mobile teams must not be allowed to be careless or perform below expectations.

At the Rawalpindi affiliated hospitals, 240 beds have been made aside for dengue patients because of the rising number of cases.

Besides the Holy Family and Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, the District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi has earmarked 40 beds for dengue patients.

A 24-hour deadline has been set for putting together test results for people suspected of having dengue fever.

According to the Metropolitan Corporation’s executive officer, fumigation and spraying have already begun, as well as the removal of invasive plants from municipal cemeteries.

Larvae are still being detected in people’s houses, which is a key factor in the illness’s spread, according to health experts. A large proportion of the larvae were discovered in household drinking water storage containers and bathroom buckets of stored water.

Indoor teams with women members also visit houses to find larvae and remove them while teaching residents about the prevention and management of the illness, they added.