40 cases of dengue reported in Karachi this week

KARACHI: More than 40 cases of dengue have reported in hospitals this week mainly due to the persisting sanitation and garbage issues in the city.

According to the Program Manager of Dengue Prevention and Control Programme (DPCP), Dr Masood Solangi more than 858 people have been affected by dengue from January till date, including children and women.

The most-hit areas of Karachi are Gulshan Iqbal, North Karachi, Gulberg, Nazimabad, Saddar, Lines area, Liaqatabad , Surjani, and Lyari.

Despite the dire situation, Karachi Metropolitan and Municipal Corporation did not start spray campaign to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease.

Sources in the Metropolitan Corporation said that due to the non-availability of funds for petrol and diesel, all the 30 fumigation vans are standing idle at the workshop.

At least 15 litre diesel and 10 litre petrol is required for one van to fumigate one area, the source added.

Dr Masood Solangi said that the total number of patients in the entire Sindh is 932 and only one death was reported from Shaheed Benazirabad district.

According to Director Health Karachi Dr Shakoor Abbasi, people should use precautions to prevent dengue or limit any possibility of growth of mosquitoes.

People should keep underground and overhead water tanks clean.

Netting is also a viable option to keep the dengue causing mosquito away and water lying on roads should also be cleared immediately.

Last but not the least, mosquito repellants also come in handy, he instructed.