Zubair Qureshi
Pakistan’s is witnessing steady rise in number of dengue-infected patients and Rawalpindi and Islamabad have turned out to be the worst-hit cities in this regard.
During last twenty-four hours, 1000 more patients were added to already 6,500 in the Allied Hospitals of the garrison city—District Headquarters Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Holy Family Hospital and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) also. However most of them were discharged after treatment.
By Thursday, the number of deaths caused by dengue infection was 34 but with one death reported in Islamabad on Friday the number is now 35. Of these deaths, too, 20 have been reported in twin cities; 9 in Rawalpindi and 11 in Islamabad.
At present the total number of dengue patients in the country is estimated to be 21,000 and of that big number more than 20,000 are fully recovered.
Those treated indoor and discharged are close to 8,000 while those admitted in Islamabad alone are around 300.
Chief Disease Surveillance Division NIH and National Coordinator for AIDS, TB and Malaria, Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar while talking to Pakistan Observer on Friday said no doubt dengue prevalence was alarming yet the way media was covering deaths and admissions is making people terrified.
According to Dr Safdar, “Once infected, patients rush to hospitals and push to get admitted despite the fact that 90pc of them have mild symptoms of dengue infection and can be treated in the initial stage.”
“All newly-diagnosed cases are provided best possible clinical management and response teams visit their houses immediately,” he said and separate teams are undertaking larva surveillance and wherever detected quick response is ensured.
Besides daily coordination meeting is chaired by Minister Zafar Mirza himself with all heads of hospitals and other relevant departments including DCs of twin cities, said Dr Safdar.
Dr Safdar urged media not create panic among people with dengue-related cases. “Unfortunately, the way media is covering, people get panicky with a case in surrounding and start pushing for hospital admissions and sprays which doesn’t help much and is not free of risk either,” he said.
