ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Health authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces on Monday confirmed 140 cases of dengue virus in the last 24 hours, amid outbreaks of the infection in multiple cities of the two provinces.
Dengue is an illness spread through vectors, carried by the bite of an infected mosquito. In its most severe form, it can lead to fatalities. People affected by dengue go through intense flu-like symptoms including high fever, intense headache, muscle and joint pain, and nausea and vomiting, typically persisting for approximately a week.
Provincial authorities confirmed 1,458 cases of the viral infection in 36 districts of Punjab this year, according to Punjab Health Secretary Ali Khan. Lahore has reported the highest number of 562 cases, Rawalpindi 271, Multan 166, Faisalabad 112, and Gujranwala has reported 54 infections.
“At present, a total of 62 dengue patients are under treatment in hospitals across Punjab, whose condition is stable,” Khan said in a statement. “The government has allocated 2,678 beds for dengue patients at Punjab government hospitals.”
The official said no patient has died of the infection in Punjab this year.
He urged people to keep their environment clean and dry to avoid the infection’s spread and to cooperate with Urban Health Department teams for its prevention.
People may contact the Health Department on the toll-free helpline, 1033, for information on dengue fever, its treatment and any complaints, Khan added.
Meanwhile, KP’s health department confirmed 97 cases of dengue virus had been reported during the last 24 hours while authorities also recorded 55 new cases of chickenpox in multiple cities of the province.
“The total number of dengue virus patients stands at 97 from almost all districts,” Professor Dr. Riaz Anwar Khan, adviser on health to the chief minister, told Arab News. “Separately, we have 55 cases of chickenpox among teachers and children in Mastooj town of Chitral and Tirah Maidan valley of Khyber district.”
Khan said the health department had instructed authorities to form teams to prevent a further outbreak of the dengue virus and provide patients with proper medical facilities.
Most of the cases were being reported from KP’s capital Peshawar, Mardan, and Swabi districts, the official said. However, more cases were being reported from other parts of the province, including the newly-merged tribal districts, Khan noted.
“My department continuously monitors the situation and measures are being worked out to prevent dengue larvae in all the districts,” he added.
Khan said district headquarters hospitals have been advised to ensure medical staff and medicines are available round-the-clock.
“Health officials have started indoor residual spraying (IRS) in the affected areas to control the situation,” he added.
