Over 100 more people contract mysterious bug

More than a hundred patients were taken to a hospital on Tuesday, as a mosquito-borne disease similar to dengue and Zika continues to wreak havoc on Karachi. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has refuted all claims connecting the mysterious disease with the chikungunya virus, both of which cause fever and severe joint pain.

Sindh Government Hospital Saudabad Medical Superintendent Dr Rehana has established a help desk for patients.

As many as 30,000 patients across the city have been affected by the unknown disease during the last 30 days.

Blood samples of patients coming to the hospital are being collected and dispatched to the Aga Khan University Hospital and the National Institute of Health Islamabad, officials said.

They claimed that the number of patients coming to the hospitals has reduced. Authorities have also begun a fumigation drive to control the population of mosquitoes.

‘No chikungunya virus’

A statement issued by the WHO said no case of chikungunya virus had been confirmed in Pakistan to date. “Any information circulating with regard to confirmation of any case is incorrect and misleading.”

The statement was issued in view of unconfirmed reports about the presence of chikungunya virus in Karachi, especially in the areas of Malir.

“The WHO, the Ministry of Health and the Sindh Health Department are working closely in the wake of these unconfirmed reports, and are carrying out epidemiological investigations.”