First dengue death reported in Haripur

HARIPUR: The first dengue-related death was reported from Haripur district, official sources said here on Friday.
However, the Health Department denied that there was any death or dengue suspect registered with it. Sources at the Ayub Medical Complex (AMC) Abbottabad said that between August 30 and September 3 two patients including a woman carrying dengue symptoms died at the AMC.
The sources said the second patient was identified as Toor Khan, son of Rehmat Khan, from Haripur district. The cases indicate the prevalence of viral disease in the district.
Dr Shahid, coordinator dengue programme in Abbottabad, also confirmed the two deaths at the AMC. He said that initial blood tests of Toor Khan from Haripur and Sadaf Bibi hailing from Mansehra were carrying dengue virus but final report from National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad had not been received by the health authorities in Abbottabad.
When contacted, the head of medical department Haripur Teaching Hospital Dr Ejaz Masood said that unprecedented rise in the high grade fever was witnessed in the district over the last two weeks. However, he claimed that none of them with the symptoms of reducing platelets and high grade fever was diagnosed as dengue positive. He said that he got their blood samples tested locally first and later at the private laboratories but more than 30 of them were found dengue negative. He said that about 10 patients were still under treatment for fever.
Commenting on the situation, District Health Officer Dr Mushtaq claimed that not a single dengue suspect had so far been reported throughout the district. He said that if any resident of Haripur living in another district was diagnosed as suspect or positive, it cannot validate the prevalence of dengue in the district.