Another 353 test positive for dengue, taking tally to over 2,740 from Pindi

Rawalpindi:The district health authority Rawalpindi claimed to have been making every effort to avoid further spread of dengue fever in the district however the number of patients being tested positive is registering a continuous increase as in the last three days, another 353 individuals have tested positive from Rawalpindi.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Sunday has revealed that the total number of confirmed dengue fever patients so far reported from the district has crossed the figure of 2,740 while the average number of patients being reported per day from Rawalpindi has been recorded as over 116 in the last one week. It is important that according to the district health authority, a total of six patients belonging to the district have already died of dengue fever though the infection has claimed a total of 11 lives at the three teaching hospitals in town in the last one month.

According to many health experts, the role of community is a must in the existing situation to control further spread of the infection in the region. The district health department and the city district government have already started carrying out awareness campaigns to sensitize individuals about dengue fever and the losses it may cause.

Experts say that to control further spread of dengue fever, it is necessary to give due attention to both the outdoor and indoor components of dengue fever surveillance as the existing climate is most suitable for growth of aedes aegypti, the vector that causes dengue fever. Media can play a great role in helping the concerned government authorities in avoiding the spike of the infection by sensitizing individuals on what necessary precautionary measures they should take particularly in and around their houses to not allow breeding and growth of mosquitoes.

Experts believe that the health departments in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have already invested the maximum possible human resources available to them for dengue surveillance though the desired results could not be achieved. The teams of the health departments have been going door-to-door, wherever possible, and are working on larvae identification and elimination and as well educating people.

Experts say that most of the breeding sites in houses and offices can easily be eradicated through physical and mechanical methods. Unnecessary accumulation of water on a number of points in the region could not be eliminated that is causing further spread of dengue fever. People must be aware of the fact that thickly populated areas contain a number of pockets for breeding and growth of mosquitoes including aedes aegypti. Individuals should clear water accumulation that is created at their gates when they wash their houses from inside.