Dengue fever outbreak enters its most intense phase, claims two lives so far

Rawalpindi
The dengue fever outbreak in the district has entered the most intense phase after the setting in of the most favourable weather conditions for transmission of the infection and consistent increase in number of confirmed cases show that the concerned authorities in the Punjab government has failed in putting any check on its spread.
Data collected by ‘The News’ on Monday reveals that during the last one week, well over 50 patients of the infection have been tested positive for dengue fever daily while in last 24 hours, as many as 54 patients have been tested positive at the three allied hospitals in town.
To date, a total of 1240 patients from Rawalpindi district have been tested positive for dengue fever that has set a new record as compared to number of cases of the infection in last four years.
In 2014, a total of 181 confirmed patients of the infection were reported from the district till October 12 and in 2013, the number of cases was 102 till October 12 while in 2012, not a single case of dengue fever was reported as in 2012, the district enjoyed dengue-free status. In 2011, a total of 357 patients were tested positive for dengue fever till October 12.
The number of cases of dengue fever is on the rise and 50 to 70 cases of the infection are being reported daily from the district on average for the last one week however the health department has strengthened further the surveillance against the infection hoping to get desired results within next 10 days, said Executive District Officer (Health) Dr. Arshad Ali Sabir while talking to ‘The News’ on Monday.
He added a total of 626 surveillance teams have been placed in the field to control the situation of which 423 teams each comprising of two members are working for indoor surveillance in the district while 203 teams are operating in the field for outdoor surveillance.
It is important that the provincial government has given charge of the seat of Executive District Officer (Health) to Dr. Arshad some 12 days back in a hope to get situation under control.
To a query, Dr. Arshad said as many as 30 patients have been tested positive for the infection at Holy Family Hospital in last 24 hours, 18 at Benazir Bhutto Hospital and six at District Headquarters Hospital. He added the infection has so far claimed two lives, one at HFH and the other at BBH.
The health department is carrying out extensive activities to control dengue fever outbreak, he said. He added as many as 103 teams have been deployed in Rawalpindi Cantonment Board areas for indoor surveillance, 46 teams in Chaklala Cantonment Board areas, 166 teams in Rawal Town and 108 teams in Potohar Town.
For outdoor surveillance, 44 teams are operating in RCB areas, 28 in CCB areas, 94 in Rawal Town and 37 in Potohar Town, said Dr. Arshad.
It is important that the weather conditions in the region remain most suitable for transmission of the infection and for growth of ‘aedes aegypti’, the mosquito that causes dengue fever till mid of November and according to many health experts, the fact makes the existing situation more alarming.
The number of cases of dengue fever reaching allied hospitals is continuously on the rise that hints that the current outbreak of the infection would be the most severe in nature.
When asked, the EDO said the health department has intensified its campaign against dengue fever and he hoped that the situation would start becoming under control from next week as result of the activities being taken at the time for elimination of adult mosquitoes and larvae of ‘aedes aegypti’.