ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto has expressed concern over the outbreak of dengue fever in Sindh and the authorities’ apathy towards addressing the crisis created by the disease on an urgent basis.

The outbreak of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) also called dengue fever in Karachi, Hyderabad and interior Sindh has reportedly affected thousands of people in the province.

According to media reports in just one day at least 56 new patients of suspected VHF were admitted to different hospitals of Karachi the city bringing the total number to over 1,000 since June. Scores of patients were admitted and treated at the other hospitals including the Aga Khan University Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital, the Civil Hospital and Ziauddin Hospital in the city according to these reports.

More than 20 deaths have also been reported due to the disease.

In a statement, the former prime minister said it was very worrying that the regime did not appear too concerned about this health problem that was preventable by improving hygiene.