KARACHI: Towns of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Saddar and North Nazimabad have so far reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Karachi, which along with Sukkur constitute the majority of coronavirus cases in Sindh.

Hypertension and diabetes were found to be the most common underlying health conditions in patients who died. Most of them were among the 60-69 (37pc) age-group and 70-79 age-group (26pc).

This analysis was part of a report prepared by the Provincial and Regional Disease Surveillance and Response Units working under the Directorate General Health Services, Sindh.

According to the report, surveillance on Covid-19 was started as soon as the health department received a report from the Aga Khan University Hospital about suspected coronavirus patients.

The report is based on the data collected from different hospitals and laboratories in Sindh from Feb 26 till April 9, which indicated that a total of 1,060 Covid-19 cases were identified with 20 deaths.

Hypertension and diabetes found to be most common underlying health conditions in patients

A district-wise breakdown of Covid-19 showed the highest number of cases in Sukkur (272) followed by Karachi East (178), Hyderabad (147), Karachi Central (141), Karachi South (111), Karachi West (50), Malir (48) and Larkana (13).

A total of 604 cases were reported in Karachi division followed by divisions of Sukkur (275), Hyderabad (153) and 14 cases each in Shaheed Benazirabad and Larkana.

A town-wise breakdown of cases in Karachi showed coronavirus has affected all towns with highest number of cases reported from Gulshan-i-Iqbal (127 cases) followed by Saddar (109) which included areas of DHA and Clifton, North Nazimabad (65), Malir (41), Jamshed Town (42), North Karachi (30), Orangi Town (28), Gulberg (22), Lyari (15), Liaquatabad (14), Shah Faisal (9), Keamari (8) and Korangi (4).

Towns of Landhi and SITE reported seven cases each while towns of Baldia and Gadap reported two cases each.

The data showed that while most cases were reported among the age-group 20-29 years (21pc) followed by age-group 30-39 years (19pc), people at the age of 70 and above are the most severely affected age group followed by 60-69 years.

A time-wise distribution of cases showed that highest number of cases (21pc) was reported on March 16 and March 30 (15pc). This data reflected detection of coronavirus cases among the zaireen [pilgrims], who were kept at a Sukkur facility, and members of Tableeghi Jamaat in Hyderabad.

A gender-wise analysis showed that 70pc patients were men whereas 30pc were women.

The transmission pattern of Covid-19, according to the report, showed that a significant number of cases have a travel history (54pc) while the rest have local transmission with known source and unknown source, it says.

“This report highlights priority areas which need to be focussed more in order to deal with Covid-19 effectively; the elderly population and the high-risk towns,” said Dr Asif Ali Syed, the provincial technical support officer of the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (FELTP), which is providing technical assistance in data collection and report compilation.

The data was being continuously updated as more cases were being identified, he added.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2020