PESHAWAR: The outbreak of dengue fever is unlikely to recede anytime soon in the presence of stagnant water pools, the breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which are carriers of the vector-borne ailment, in the capital city, say experts.

Number of patients recorded decrease on Sunday as 331 people visited hospitals with symptoms of dengue fever and 294 of were tested. Among them 31 turned out to be positive. A total of 24 patients were admitted to hospitals, bringing the number of total hospitalised patients to 443.

So far 2,294 persons have been tested positive for dengue fever since the outbreak of the vector-borne disease in early July. The disease is endemic in Tehkal, which accounted for six of the total 10 deaths. Most of the anti-dengue campaign is concentrated in Tehkal.

31 more test positive for the vector-borne disease

The health department is expanding anti-dengue facilities and has alerted district hospitals to provide prompt response to suspected patients. Entomologists suggest that prevention should be accorded priority to stop production of mosquitoes to control transmission of the virus.

“Unsanitary conditions result in paving the way for breeding of mosquitoes while the departments concerned have failed to join hands for elimination of standing water,” said experts. They said that main drainage along both sides of University Road lied open from Tambwano Mor to Board stop with water standing for weeks and months.

“Production of mosquitoes, the carriers of dengue fever, is in progress at fast speed while government focuses on screening and treatment of people, which is an exercise in futility in the presence standing water,” they said.

The hospitals are busy in treating patients while more people are coming to hospitals and doctors are pre-occupied with the patients having dengue symptoms.

Experts said that it was impossible for people to sleep under bed nets all the time so the only solution was elimination of breeding sites of mosquitoes. They said that fumigation was not useful when stagnant water remained in streets and bazaars.

Experts said that any common mosquito became carrier of dengue when it bit an infected patient and therefore the safety of the confirmed patients of vector-borne disease should be ensured.

Experts, however, insist that the virus will continue to infect people as long as the stagnant water pools are not eliminated.

The spread of ailment continues to other districts after Peshawar. Most patients have history of mosquito-bites, presence of stagnant water pools and power loadshedding.

Experts said that public sector hospitals assigned spaces in wards to make room for hospitalisation of the affected people and their screening amid patients’ flow in the absence of a comprehensive strategy with priority to preventive side of the public health issue.

“Patients should use bed nets to stay safe from mosquito bite and avoid spread of infection. The disease is totally preventable through a holistic approach by various government departments to end sources of breeding of mosquitoes,” they said.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2017