Number of dengue patients rises to 700 in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The number of dengue patients in the provincial metropolis has soared to 700.

As per officials in the district administration, the highest number of cases has been reported from Tehkal, Pishtakhara, Safed Dheri and adjoining areas.

At least 120 patients were being treated at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex and other hospitals. Besides, over 3,000 people have been screened for the virus at Khyber Teaching Hospital. As per the hospital administration, 4,320 suspected cases of dengue have been brought to the facility since July.

As the cases are rising by the day, locals are irked at the authorities concerned, saying work was only being done for the camera not to relieve citizens of the spreading virus.

However, according to Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Saqib Raza Aslam, they are not only fumigating areas to kill the dengue mosquitoes but have also dispatched 50 to 60 lady health workers who are going door-to-door to spread awareness about the virus.

Dengue alert: Is Peshawar prepared for yet another outbreak?

Khyber Teaching Hospital has received over 3,000 suspected patients

But that is not enough, said Momin Khan, a local. “They use substandard chemicals in the spray to save cost.” Moreover, he added, the health teams rarely visit rural areas.

Unlike Punjab, which quickly realised that it was grappling with an epidemic and declared an emergency in hospitals, KP government has yet to take serious notice of the epidemic.