Dengue virus strikes again
* One person reported dead, 66 sick
By Imran Chaudhry
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LAHORE: Mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus have spread the disease amongst citizens before its season, killing at least one and making more than 100 sick across the province.
Experts say dengue fever cases usually emerge in September, the season for the spread and breeding of mosquitoes. Last year, the first dengue case was reported in mid-September and patients continued to suffer for three months. The Punjab Health Department officially confirmed 5693 cases during September to November 2010.
However, according to unconfirmed statistics, no less than 20,000 patients had been tested positive for the virus in both public and private health facilities claiming the lives of some three-dozen patients during the aforementioned period.
Experts said that the dengue virus emerged twice in the year, from February to April and from September to November. In the first period, few cases of dengue fever were reported, while many more occurred in the period from September to November.
Interestingly, this year dengue cases continued to appear from March to August, which means that the dengue virus is adapting and that mosquitoes are resisting insecticides more effectively than in the past.
The death of Model Town resident Nasrullah (62) owing to dengue fever in the current month (August) and the hospitalisation of dozens of other patients bewildered authorities who were preparing proposals and plans to combat the expected outbreak of dengue in September. Jinnah Hospital Dengue Cell Incharge Dr Muddasar Razaq said that the current monsoon season created an environment that could cause another large-scale epidemic of dengue fever, which would be a major threat for those patients who encountered the same disease last year.
Pakistan Medical Society Chairman Dr Masood Sheikh, along with Dr Shahid Malik and Dr Salman Kazmi, told Daily Times that according to unconfirmed statistics, more than 100 patients had been tested positive for the virus in both the public and private health facilities in the province. The Punjab Health Department, however, claims that 66 new patients have been tested positive for the virus across the Punjab. They said that the best way to prevent the breeding of the dengue virus mosquito was to change the water in flower pots, bottles, bath tubs and water tanks daily.
They further said that citizens should fumigate as well as fix mosquito killers in their houses to avoid getting dengue.
CDC Health Director Dr Mubashar Malik told Daily Times that an outbreak of dengue before its due season was unprecedented and said that it was due to the current monsoon season. He confirmed that a patient had died due to dengue fever in the current month and that 66 new patients had been tested positive for the virus.
He further said that the Punjab Health Department had ordered all EDOs of the province on July 1 to start fumigation in their respective areas on July 15.
By Imran Chaudhry
================================================
LAHORE: Mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus have spread the disease amongst citizens before its season, killing at least one and making more than 100 sick across the province.
Experts say dengue fever cases usually emerge in September, the season for the spread and breeding of mosquitoes. Last year, the first dengue case was reported in mid-September and patients continued to suffer for three months. The Punjab Health Department officially confirmed 5693 cases during September to November 2010.
However, according to unconfirmed statistics, no less than 20,000 patients had been tested positive for the virus in both public and private health facilities claiming the lives of some three-dozen patients during the aforementioned period.
Experts said that the dengue virus emerged twice in the year, from February to April and from September to November. In the first period, few cases of dengue fever were reported, while many more occurred in the period from September to November.
Interestingly, this year dengue cases continued to appear from March to August, which means that the dengue virus is adapting and that mosquitoes are resisting insecticides more effectively than in the past.
The death of Model Town resident Nasrullah (62) owing to dengue fever in the current month (August) and the hospitalisation of dozens of other patients bewildered authorities who were preparing proposals and plans to combat the expected outbreak of dengue in September. Jinnah Hospital Dengue Cell Incharge Dr Muddasar Razaq said that the current monsoon season created an environment that could cause another large-scale epidemic of dengue fever, which would be a major threat for those patients who encountered the same disease last year.
Pakistan Medical Society Chairman Dr Masood Sheikh, along with Dr Shahid Malik and Dr Salman Kazmi, told Daily Times that according to unconfirmed statistics, more than 100 patients had been tested positive for the virus in both the public and private health facilities in the province. The Punjab Health Department, however, claims that 66 new patients have been tested positive for the virus across the Punjab. They said that the best way to prevent the breeding of the dengue virus mosquito was to change the water in flower pots, bottles, bath tubs and water tanks daily.
They further said that citizens should fumigate as well as fix mosquito killers in their houses to avoid getting dengue.
CDC Health Director Dr Mubashar Malik told Daily Times that an outbreak of dengue before its due season was unprecedented and said that it was due to the current monsoon season. He confirmed that a patient had died due to dengue fever in the current month and that 66 new patients had been tested positive for the virus.
He further said that the Punjab Health Department had ordered all EDOs of the province on July 1 to start fumigation in their respective areas on July 15.
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.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C08%5C12%5Cstory_12-8-2011_pg13_3
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