RAWALPINDI: Another 18 dengue patients reached the government hospitals in the garrison city as District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Asif Arbab Niazi warned people to take precautionary measures till Oct 15 as it was a critical period of the dengue season.

A total of 189 patients have been affected in the garrison city in the current season out of whom 151 were discharged after getting treatment, one person succumbed to the virus and 37 patients still remain in hospitals.

As many as 227 suspected patients have landed in different hospitals.

Most of the patients arrived from Gulistan Colony, Dhoke Munshi, Airport Housing Society, Kumhar Road Gawalmandi, Chaklala Scheme-III, Dhama Syedan, Kohinoor Mills, Peshawar Road, and other areas of the cantonment areas.

According to a senior official of the district administration, “no fogging had been carried out in any ward of Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment”.

“Under the standard operating procedures issued by the Punjab government, cleanliness of graveyards and junkyards were the responsibility of Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonment boards but they failed to cut the bushes in and around them, which had become breeding points for dengue mosquitoes,” he said.

A senior doctor at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital told Dawn that patients with fever and body aches were considered suspected patients and those having high fever during the last few days were admitted to the hospital and their dengue serology conducted.

He said isolation wards had been established in the hospitals, however, there was no critical patient.

He said people had been advised to keep their houses and working places clean, drink plenty of water, avoid unhealthy food and wear full sleeve shirts in the morning and evening.

Meanwhile, District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Asif Arbab Niazi said there had been a significant reduction in dengue cases this year compared to last year, but until October 15, the risk of dengue remains present.

He said 382 dengue patients were reported on September 10, 2023 and 764 cases during the same period in 2022, whereas this year, the number of patients was only 189.

He said dengue mosquito breeding season was at its peak at this time which was why more focus was being given till October 15, adding that compared to last year, most larvae had been destroyed.

He said the purpose of setting up the clinic on wheels was to diagnose dengue cases, sweep the area and spray medicines.

Dr Niazi further said that if larvae were found in any government building, they would register a case against the department.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2024