17 so far test positive for dengue in Pindi

Rawalpindi:Both the public and private sector healthcare facilities operating in the district have so far reported as many as 3555 suspected dengue fever cases of which 17 have been laboratory confirmed according to District Health Authority (DHA) Rawalpindi.

According to the health department, serious efforts are being made to combat dengue virus through continued vector surveillance campaigns across the district. To date, indoor inspections were conducted in 24,707 houses of which 1,068 were identified positive for dengue larvae, with 1,172 positive containers. Potohar Town (Peri-Urban) recorded the highest concentration of indoor breeding sites, with 336 positive houses and 384 positive containers. Rawalpindi Cantonment also showed significant indoor positivity with 244 houses and 257 containers.

Through outdoor surveillance campaigns, the teams of the health department checked a total of 7,354 spots, finding 152 positive with 167 positive containers. Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi reported the highest numbers in this category, with 49 positive spots and 60 positive containers.

In-charge District Disease Surveillance and Response Unit Dr. Waqar Ahmed informed ‘The News’ that responding to the detected breeding sites, a total of 12,356 larvae cases have been recorded between July 1 and July 22.

The overall Case Response (CR) percentage stands at an impressive 97 per cent, with only 367 cases still pending. Notably, Potohar Rural has the lowest CR at 93 per cent, with six pending cases, while Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, Taxilla, and Taxilla Cantonment have all achieved a 100 per cent CR, indicating no pending larvae cases, he said.

He added that currently, 38 Union Councils (UCs) have a Breteau Index (BI) above seven, with Chaklala Cantonment (CTC-5) reporting the highest. Additionally, 68 UCs fall within the 3-7 BI range, including Rawalpindi Cantonment (CTR-14). The Breteau Index, a measure of mosquito density, remains a key indicator for targeted interventions, he said. The BI above seven means that larvae of ‘aedes aegypti’, the vector that causes dengue fever have been found from over seven per cent of the houses checked in these 38 UCs.