The Sindh health department reported that three more deaths from dengue fever in Karachi, raising the death toll from the mosquito-borne viral infection to 49 in the province. According to officials, a man and two women, under treatment at the Ziauddin Hospital, North Nazimabad campus, died over the past two days. They resided in Karachi West and Central. Official stats show that 11,699 dengue fever cases have so far been reported this year in Karachi, out of which 3,219 are reported in October.
A total of 272 cases were reported in the city on Oct 12. Karachi East tops the list (847) followed by Central (758), Korangi (644), South (417), West (124), Malir (306) and Kaemari (125). Of the total 49 mortalities, only three were reported from outside Karachi.
“Numbers of in-patients are still high at our hospital. Right now, we have 75 patients under treatment,” said Dr Abdul Wahid Rajput of the Sindh Infectious Disease Hospital and Research Centre, adding that there was no recent death from dengue fever.
According to experts, there is no vaccine or specific treatment available for dengue fever and the only prevention is to eliminate mosquitoes. The disease symptoms, which begin three to four days after the infection, may include high fever, headache, vomiting and pain in muscles, joints, eyes and bones. It can also be associated with skin rashes.
In the worst condition, there could be bleeding from gums, nose, mouth, ears and other parts of the body.
Patients are advised to have an examination from qualified doctors as soon as they notice signs and symptoms, and follow the guidelines. Most dengue fever patients, experts say, recover without any complications.
