Two dengue fever cases from Satellite Town, Muslim Town confirmed

Rawalpindi

The confirmation of two patients positive for dengue fever from thickly populated area of town in last three weeks has increased the chances of a possible outbreak of the infection in coming months, however, the health department termed the cases as sporadic ones.

Both the patients, one from Satellite Town and the other from Muslim Town, were tested positive for dengue fever through NS1 test here at Holy Family Hospital. Both the patients were male and according to epidemiologists, their travelling history must be investigated because only an infected mosquito ‘Aedes Aegypti’ can cause dengue fever.

Epidemiologists believe that the infection cannot pass from infected mosquitoes to their next generation and hence the most severe dengue fever outbreak in town last year would not play any role in causing outbreak this year.

The mosquitoes causing infection at the time must have fed on an infected person and then they may cause dengue fever to other persons.  It is, however, alarming that appearance of even a single case of dengue fever is enough to prove the existence of dengue fever vector ‘Aedes Aegypti’ in the area.

According to epidemiologists, four factors are a must for dengue fever incidence in an area. For incidence of dengue fever, suitable temperature, humidity, rains and infected traveller along with existence of dengue fever vector in the area are a must.

The reporting of two confirmed cases of dengue fever from two adjoining vicinities, A Block of Satellite Town and Muslim Town have been taken seriously and sweeping activity has already been carried out in the area from where the cases have been reported, said Executive District Officer (Health) Dr. Arshad Ali Sabir while talking to ‘The News’.

After investigations, it is found that the cases were of sporadic nature, however, the surveillance against dengue fever in the area has been strengthened further, he said. He added the district health department has already
been carrying out larvae identification and elimination campaign all across the district.

He said the teams of health department have performed Insecticidal Residual Spray in as many as 12 houses on each side of the houses from where the confirmed cases of dengue fever have been reported.