Dengue fever outbreak hits twin cities

Allied hospitals receive 199 confirmed patients in 6 days; another death at HFH takes toll to 2

Rawalpindi

The increasing number of confirmed patients of dengue fever being reported here at public sector hospitals in this region of the country and the trend of incidence of the infection indicate that the dengue fever outbreak has starting hitting population in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The infection claimed another life here at Holy Family Hospital four days back while in last six days, the allied hospitals in town received as many as 199 confirmed patients of dengue fever that took the total number of patients tested positive at the three teaching hospitals to 468.

A young boy aged 24, who was a student of a dental college and was residing in Tarlai in the federal capital died of the infection at the HFH four days back. Earlier, on September 14, an 18-year-old girl belonging to district Attock died of dengue fever at the HFH.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Saturday reveals that in last week, from September 25 to Friday, the HFH tested as many as 80 patients positive for dengue fever while Benazir Bhutto Hospital received 92 confirmed patients in last six days. During the period, as many as 27 confirmed patients of dengue fever reported at District Headquarters Hospital in town.

To date, the HFH has received a total of 272 confirmed patients of dengue fever while BBH received 148 cases so far. The DHQ Hospital received as many as 48 cases so far this year.

It is alarming that the number of confirmed patients of dengue fever in the district is continuously on the rise and the same is the situation of admitted patients at the three allied hospitals in town.

On last Sunday, a total of 88 patients were admitted to wards of the allied hospitals including 43 patients at HFH, 39 at BBH and six at DHQ Hospital along with five patients in High Dependency Unit of the HFH whereas on Saturday morning, as many as 174 patients were undergoing treatment in wards of the allied hospitals along with 17 patients in HDUs.

According to detail, as many as 71 patients were undergoing treatment in ward at the HFH along with 11 patients in HDU on Saturday morning while at BBH, 86 patients were undergoing treatment in ward and six in HDU. As many as 17 patients were undergoing treatment at DHQ Hospital on Saturday morning.

On Saturday morning, the allied hospitals have yet to receive confirmation reports in as many as 38 cases from pathology departments.