RAWALPINDI: There has been no let-up in the number of dengue patients as 27 more people were infected by the mosquito-borne disease on Friday.

With the latest figure, the total tally of dengue patients has risen to 540.

As many as 27 patients landed in three government-run hospitals during the last 24 hours. A total of 43 dengue patients are admitted to the hospitals, out of which 18 were in Holy Family Hospital, 15 in District Headquarters Hospital, eight in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, three in Social Security Hospital, and eight were under treatment in private hospitals.

Most patients arrived from Tramri Chowk area, Kashmir Colony, Chittian Hattian, Committee Chowk, Mubarak Lane, Peshawar Road; New Lalazar, Gulistan Colony, Lane 4, Peshawar Road; Chaklala, and adjoining areas.

According to official figures, five dengue patients were in critical condition while the remaining were getting treatment at government-run hospitals in the garrison city.

After sensing the increasing number of dengue patients in three hospitals, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema called a meeting to review the anti-dengue drive and asked the District Health Authority to make arrangements for fogging in the affected areas and adopt precautionary measures in case of rain in the coming days.

The officials said the district administration had increased efforts for fogging in the dengue-hit areas, adding that 15,363 houses were checked and dengue larvae were found in 746 of them. Similarly, 4,966 commercial and outdoor spots were also checked and dengue larvae was found in 129 places.

They said 56 FIRs were lodged against commercial building owners where dengue larvae were found, one site was sealed, and Rs124,500 fine imposed on violators of SOPs.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2023