16 dengue cases positive in Rawalpindi; preventive measures stressed to control dengue

RAWALPINDI: So far, this year, 16 dengue fever cases, admitted in Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Civil Hospital of Rawalpindi have been declared positive by National Institute of Health (NIH).

According to District Health Department's figure, this year total 125 suspected dengue fever cases have been admitted in hospitals of Rawalpindi and the patients are being provided medical treatment in three teaching hospitals in the city.

Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) Holy Family Hospital (HFH) Dr. Javed Hayat talking to APP informed that so far total 65 suspected patients were admitted in the hospital out of which 11 have been proved positive.

The medical tests of 26 suspected patients were negative while 28 patients' medical report is still awaited.

Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) Benazir Bhutto Hospital Dr. Abdul Ghafoor talking to APP said total 19 suspected patients were brought in the hospital while at present 12 patients are being provided medical treatment.

Medical tests of five patients remained positive while five patients tests proved negative. Two patients' report is still awaited, Dr. Abdul Ghafoor informed.

In Civil Hospital, total nine suspected patients were admitted but so far, no one's medical tests were positive, informed Dr. Sohail Ijaz, Additional Medical Superintendent Civil Hospital.

District Health Officer (DHO), Dr. Khalid Randhawa informed that anti-dengue spray has been kicked off in the whole district to prevent the dengue virus.

He said currently, prevention of the disease is priority of district health department and administration is working day and night to avoid a possible outbreak of the infection. All out efforts are being made to keep Rawalpindi dengue free district, he said.

Dengue fever situation is under control in Rawalpindi region claimed Dr. Javed Hayat, Deptuy Medical Superintendent (DMS) Holy Family Hospital (HFH).

He said that maximum arrangements for the medical treatment of dengue fever patients were made in Holy Family Hospital.

He said all possible preventive measures should be adopted to avert dengue virus.

To a question he said that last year total 900 suspected dengue fever patients were admitted in the hospital while more than 300 patients were with confirmed dengue fever virus.

He said that the suspected patients are being brought in the hospital mainly from Attock, Chakwal and different areas of Kashmir.

Dr. Javed Hayat said dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows other symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands and rash. Other signs of dengue fever include bleeding gums, severe pain behind the eyes, and red palms and soles, he added.

Dengue strikes people with low levels of immunity. Because it is caused by one of four serotypes of virus, it is possible to get dengue fever multiple times. However, an attack of dengue produces immunity for a lifetime to that particular serotype to which the patient was exposed, he informed.

The virus is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito that has previously bitten an infected person. The mosquito flourishes during rainy seasons but can breed in water-filled flower pots, plastic bags, and cans year-round. One mosquito bite can inflict the disease, he said.

The virus is not contagious and cannot be spread directly from person to person. There must be a person-to-mosquito-to-another-person pathway, he added.

Dr. Javed Hayat informed that the chance of dengue fever ends in mid of October.