KARACHI, July 22: The Sindh dengue surveillance cell on Monday confirmed 17 new cases of dengue viral fever in the city.

Since January 2013, 478 dengue cases had been reported in Sindh, said the focal person for the cell, Dr Shakeel Mullick. Of them, he added, 466 were detected in Karachi, while 12 were found in other parts of the province.

He said four dengue patients in the city had died and 16 were admitted to different hospitals this year so far.

A total of 17 new cases were reported on Monday. The patients were admitted to different hospitals. Besides, six dengue patients were discharged from hospitals after being given treatment, he added.

Meanwhile, Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui reviewed measures being adopted for prevention and control of dengue fever.

While chairing a meeting, he directed deputy commissioners and other officials concerned to make all-out efforts to check the spread of dengue fever in the city.

The meeting extensively discussed measures to prevent outbreak of any epidemic-like situation peculiar to post-monsoons. He asked the city administration to ensure removal of water from roads and fumigation across the city.

The commissioner told the administrators of the hospitals run by KMC and provincial health department to develop a close coordination with Sindh focal person for dengue surveillance.—APP/PPI