KARACHI, Sept 24: Perturbed by reports of a surge in cases of mosquito-borne dengue fever, which claimed another life on Sunday, the Sindh health department has decided to reactivate its disease surveillance system from Tuesday with a view to collecting relevant data on a day-to-day basis, it emerged on Monday.
The provincial special secretary on public health, Dr Abdul Majid, told Dawn that while dengue fever patients were reporting to different hospitals across the city, his department was currently not in a position to pass on authentic figures to the public and the decision-makers.
A twenty-five-year-old patient, who tested positive for dengue fever, died at the Aga Khan University Hospital on Sunday, said an AKU official, adding that at least seven more dengue fever patients were still admitted to the health-care facility.
“We have been collecting data on different diseases through the ‘Disease Early Warning System’ periodically from different district hospitals and health officials across the province, but now all hospitals in the public and private sectors will be required to give us dengue fever details on a day-to-day basis,” said Dr Majid said, adding that a consolidated report would be prepared.
Dr Majid observed that since no medication was required for patients suffering from dengue fever, which is caused by the aedes egypti mosquito, the government would start with its public education programme without any delay. “People will be informed by different sources how best to protect themselves, identify the symptoms and what to do or not do if dengue symptoms are registered,” he commented.
Meanwhile, the Sindh Minister for Health, Syed Sardar Ahmad, has also called a meeting of health officials and other stakeholders on Sept 27 to review the situation vis-à-vis the mosquito-borne dengue fever, which has resurfaced in the city in recent weeks.According to a source in the provincial health department, the minister wants a speedy strategy developed by doctors in consultation with government agencies and other stakeholders.
Hospitals and general physicians have reported a number of cases of dengue fever since September 1 and a 17-year-old girl died from dengue shock syndrome at a private hospital last week.
“We anticipate a possible increase in dengue fever cases because of the traditional warm weather at this time,” said an official of the health department.
Doctors specialising in infectious diseases, representatives from private and public hospitals, the executive district officer (EDO), Health, Karachi, personnel from blood transfusion agencies and vice-chancellors of medical universities are, amongst others, likely to attend the upcoming meeting that is to be chaired by the provincial health minister, said the source. The meeting is to be held at the office of the health minister at 4pm.
