Amraiz Khan
Amid visible dip in the coronavirus in the provincial metropolis, the menace of dengue fever has reared its ugly head with 81 cases reported during the past 24 hours in the City hospitals.
With the detection of 81 new dengue cases, the number of case reported in the City reached 971 in current year so far, the health officials informed.
The district administration and the health department have stepped up dengue surveillance across the City and have appealed to the people to extend cooperation for elimination dengue larvae.
According to the health department, eight people were admitted to Ganga Ram Hospital, six to Jinnah Hospital, six to Ghurki Hospital and four each to General Hospital and Services Hospital.
The officials informed that most of the cases were reported from Defence, Gulberg, Iqbal Town and Samanabad areas of the City.
The Punjab Health Department has directed officials to conduct dengue tests along with Covid-19 tests for people suffering with fever.
On the other hand, the district administration officials informed that during the last week, dengue larvae were found at more than 160,000 places in Lahore.
According to experts, dengue does not have any specific precautionary methods, and the only way to prevent it is through the eradication of mosquitoes.
The only way to stop their growing population is through better garbage collection and water drainage.
The WHO says these are the symptoms of dengue including: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands and rash that usually last between two to seven days.
There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Fever reducers and pain killers can be taken to control the symptoms of muscle ache and pain, and fever.
Meanwhile, five more suspects were arrested after a woman was set on fire in Tibba Sultanpur village of Khanewal district.
According to police, a fake pir set the woman, said to be mentally-challenged, on fire in the name of exorcising jinns.
As a result, 70% of her body was left with severe burns. She is under treatment at a local hospital. Following the incident, the police arrested the fake exorcist identified as Masoom Shah.
The police said they have arrested his five accomplices. The arrested persons have been identified as Iqbal, Rizwan, Munawar, Liaqat and Ashraf.
An FIR has been registered against them on attempt to murder, and other sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The police said efforts are underway to arrest more accomplices of the fake exorcist.
