68 found dengue-positive in Multan

MULTAN: The Health department teams have not yet found any trace of dengue virus carrying mosquito in Multan, however, officials admitted that blood screening has confirmed 68 dengue fever patients out of total 113 reported cases and 33 of them were residents of Multan.

Medical Superintendent Nishtar Hospital Multan Dr. Zafar Alvi and EDO Health Dr. Inamul Haq told reporters at the isolation ward for dengue fever patients at the hospital that health department teams were busy in tracing the history of three new patients reported from Makhdoom Rasheed of Multan.

The EDO health said a health department team headed by CDC and an entomologist were busy examining the mosquito samples at Makhdoom Rasheed. He added special teams of doctors from Lahore had also visited different areas of Multan and their reports had suggested no incidence of dengue virus carrying mosquito in this area.

He said despite these reports, 60 percent area of Multan has been covered under the anti-mosquito spray.

He said suspected dengue fever patients should not go to private laboratories because the blood screening facility was available at Nishtar Hospital and Civil hospital.

Dr. Zafar Alvi said those dengue fever patients were being admitted to the ward whose platelet count was less than10,000.

Any suspected dengue fever patient can go to emergency ward of Nishtar Hospital where his/her tests would be conducted free of cost besides free treatment and food.

Alvi said people should apply anti-mosquito spray twice a week inside their homes and do not let water accumulated there.

He said while the government was busy in conducting spray, people would also have to share this responsibility to keep their environment clean and adopt measures to keep the mosquito away from their family members.

The MS said best facilities were being provided to dengue fever patients at Nishtar Hospital where 50 air-conditioned rooms have been allocated for them. (APP)