RAWALPINDI: The arrival of the first dengue patient from the Rawalpindi cantonment at Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Saturday has sent alarm bells ringing at the health department.

Mohammad Shabir, 52, is a resident of Gulistan Colony near Ayub National Park. He was brought to the hospital with a high fever last week, and tested positive for dengue fever.

A senior doctor at HFH told Dawn the hospital had collected the patient’s travel history and found that he visited Karachi between May 5 and May 9. He may have contracted the dengue virus there, he said.

The patient also visited Gujar Khan, the doctor said, adding that he was not sure whether the patient contracted the virus in Gujar Khan, Karachi or Rawalpindi.

“However, the details have been shared with the District Health Authority and Punjab health department to take precautionary measures in the patient’s residential areas,” he said.

HFH Medical Superintendent Dr Tariq Niazi confirmed the arrival of a dengue patient from the cantonment areas. He said the patient is in stable condition and would recover soon.

A senior health authority official said a team has visited the patient’s residential area and carried out fogging in and around his house.

“Under the standard operating procedures (SOP) issued by the Punjab government, 40 houses around the patient of dengue fever would be fumigated immediately to eliminate the chances of spread of dengue virus in the area,” the official said.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2018