3 UCs in federal capital badly hit by dengue fever

Over 150 cases in last 12 days make situation alarming

Islamabad

At least three union councils falling in rural area of the federal capital are being badly hit by dengue fever and the incidence of the infection has almost taken shape of an epidemic here in these union councils namely Sohan, Tarlai and Rawat.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Tuesday has revealed that over 150 confirmed cases of dengue fever have been reported from federal capital in last 12 days only making the situation alarming and majority of these cases are from the three union councils located on the outskirt of Rawalpindi along Islamabad Highway also known as Islamabad Expressway.

To date, as many as 41 confirmed cases of dengue fever have been reported from UC Sohan, 49 cases from UC Rawat and 42 from UC Tarlai, said Additional District Health Officer at Islamabad Capital Territory Health Department Dr. Muhammad Najeeb Durrani while talking to ‘The News’.

He added that to date, a total of 30 confirmed cases of dengue fever have been reported from urban areas of the federal capital while 13 cases have been reported from UC Tarnol along with few cases of sporadic nature from various localities including Koral and Sihala. It is important that before September 15 this year, slightly over 30 confirmed cases of dengue fever were reported from both the rural and urban area of the federal capital.

To a query, Dr. Durrani admitted that the situation in three union councils including Sohan, Tarlai and Rawat is taking shape of an epidemic. The ICT Health Department is taking prompt action to control spread of dengue fever in the three UCs located adjacent to Rawalpindi, he said.

He added that on both sides of Islamabad Expressway, the number of dengue fever cases is on the rise in areas either falling under jurisdiction of ICT health department or Rawalpindi district health department.

It is important that most of the cases reported from UC Sohan are from Village Shakrial, a part of which falls under jurisdiction of Rawalpindi district health department like Rawat. Dr. Durrani also informed ‘The News’ that most of the confirmed cases reported from areas located adjacent to Rawalpindi reached Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi for management.

He said to control dengue fever spread in areas adjacent to Rawalpindi, the ICT health department has planned to devise a joint strategy with the Rawalpindi district health department under which carpet fogging and fumigation would be performed on both sides of Islamabad Expressway.