Unknown disease in Karachi affects 30,000

KARACHI: As many as 30,000 patients have been affected by an unknown disease in the city during the last 30 days, said Senior Director Health Services Dr Abdul Wahid Panwer.

According to Dr Panwer, 30,000 patients have visited the OPD of Sindh Government Hospital Saudabad complaining of high-fever and severe body pain.  

Health authorities in the city have sprung to action after the mysterious disease was highlighted by the media.

Minister Health Dr Sikander Mehndro also visited the hospital and said that unless it was proven, authorities could not be sure that the viral diesease is Chikungunghya.

So far fifteen blood samples have been taken by patients. Five samples have been sent to Aga Khan University Hospital, five to National Institute of Health Islamabad and five have been sent to Sindh Government Lab, MS SGHS Dr Rehana Bajwa confirmed.

On the directives of Health Department, Malaria Control program has started its work collecting sample of larwa-sites and conducting fumigation.

Meanwhile, a committee from World Health Organisation (WHO) also visited the hospital and took blood samples to diagnose the disease.   

Minister Health Dr Sikander Ali Mehndro denied that the virus is spreading to different parts of the city.  

Meanwhile, residents of Saudabad and surrounding areas are concerned about the diseases as almost every home is affected in Suadabad and Malir Town.