ISLAMABAD: As many as 80 people were infected with dengue in the capital in the last 24 hours, taking the tally of the season to 2,759 with six casualties. Moreover, 277 cases emerged in the district of Rawalpindi.

Out of the 80 cases, 47 were reported from the rural and 33 from the urban areas of the city.

According to a document, during current season 1,628 cases have been reported from the rural areas and 1,131 from urban areas of Islamabad. Two people each died in Tarlai and Rawat and one each in F-7 and I-8.

During the last 24 hours, 37 cases were reported by private labs and 18 by Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). Moreover, 13 cases were reported by the Federal General Hospital in Chak Shahzad.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), globally dengue is one of the top 10 public health threats.

The dengue virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The most common symptoms of dengue are high grade fever accompanied by joint and muscular aches.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for dengue but early detection and proper medical care can lower mortality otherwise the disease may turn into a life-threatening haemorrhagic fever, which may lead to bleeding and dangerously low blood pressure.

Rapid and unplanned urbanisation, lack of sanitation and climate change are all contributing to a surge in dengue infections.

Total 96 patientsreported in three government run hospitals of the garrison city on Thursday.

Rawalpindi

As many277 confirmeddenguepatients were admitted in three government hospitals - 73 in Holy Family Hospital (HFH), 118 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and 86 in the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital.

Officials said 215 of the patients were from Rawalpindi, 44 from Islamabad, seven from Attock, two each from Chakwal, Haripur and Kotli while one each from Abbottabad, Nowshera and Mansehra and Karachi.

Of the new cases, 33 were reported from Potohar Town, 22 from Rawalpindi Cantonment, 13 from the city, eight from Chaklala Cantonment, five from rural areas, four from Taxila and one each from Kalar Syedan and Kahuta.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2022