FAISALABAD/LAHORE: Another chickenpox patient died at the Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, while two others were brought to the facility on Monday.

With the latest casualty, the disease’s toll has reached 21 since March 1.

According to hospital sources, Khalida Riaz of Chak 119-JB, Rasoolpur, had developed fever and rashes and was brought to the facility on May 17 last in a critical condition. She was diabetic for the last four years.

Meanwhile, two other suspected chickenpox patients – Aamir Sohail (24), of Chak 126-GB, Sharoana, Jaranwala and Abid Ali (32) of Chak 188-JB, Bhawana, Chiniot – were admitted to the hospital.

Sohail had fever on May 25 last. He is a milkman and frequently visits various places, while Abid Ali complained of fever on May 25 last and was initially “treated” by a dispenser at Chak 187-JB, Chiniot.

Meanwhile, Communi-cable Disease Control Pro-gramme (CDCP) Director

Dr Muhammad Bashir informed a meeting held in Lahore on Monday that the chickenpox situation was under control as only eight patients were under treatment in two public hospitals of the province.

“Five patients are in Allied Hospital of Faisalabad and three in Children’s Hospital of Lahore,” Dr Bashir told the meeting held to review the situation of chickenpox in the province.

From Jan 1 to date, 3,950 confirmed chickenpox cases had been reported in Punjab, he said, while pointing out problems in data entry of the patients.

He said that in some cases, name of a patient was entered twice.

“When an old patient comes again for treatment in the hospital on the advice of the consultant, the staff registers him or her as a new patient. The situation is now under control and there is no need to worry,” he claimed.

Presiding over the meeting Minister for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Khwaja Salman Rafique ordered that treatment of chickenpox patients should be carried out according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

He said a chickenpox patient should be registered once and on the second visit he or she must be identified with the old registration number.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2017