RAWALPINDI: Three people tested positive for dengue on Tuesday, taking the total number of such patients in the hospitals of the Rawalpindi district to 13 during the ongoing dengue season.

According to officials, there were as many as 50 individuals who had contracted the dengue virus and 42 out of them had been sent home following treatment. At present, eight patients are getting treated at multiple hospitals in the district whereas five patients – who have dengue-like symptoms – are awaiting their test results.

Out of these, three dengue patients are under treatment at the Red Crescent Hospital, two each at Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital, one each at Kallar Syedan and Gujar Khan tehsil headquarters hospitals, two at Wah General Hospital and two patients are under treatment at Social Security Hospital in Rawalpindi.

There has been an uptick in the number of dengue patients over the past two weeks during which Rawalpindi received heavy monsoon rainfall, leading to the accumulation of rainwater in low-lying areas of the city. This prompted the government to step up its anti-dengue campaign to eliminate possible dengue larvae from such neighbourhoods.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema and Punjab government Focal Person for Dengue Dr Waseem Akram, while presiding over a meeting in this regard, said there was a need to work against dengue on a “war footing”.

“The current season is very important regarding dengue. All departments should focus on efforts to eliminate dengue,” DC Cheema said. He said the authorities should focus on the areas where dengue cases had been reported, adding that awareness campaigns should also be started in these areas.

It may be noted that most cases had been reported in nine union councils of the district, including Gulistan Colony, Choha Khalsa, Dhoke Kala Khan, Takhat Pari, Gangal, Chak Jalaldin and Girja. Wah Cantonment also reported dengue cases.

Dr Waseem Akram said that announcements should be made in the mosques regarding the prevention of dengue in the areas where dengue cases have been reported and dignitaries should visit houses to raise awareness about dengue. The complaints uploaded on a government dashboard regarding dengue should be resolved in a timely manner, he said.

On the other hand, Malikabad Plaza on Murree Road, a hostel in Satellite Town, and some other buildings were sealed on Tuesday after the health authorities detected the presence of dengue larvae there. The district officials asked the administration of the plaza and the boys hostel to clean the sites and it would reopen them after an inspection.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2024