HYDERABAD, Nov 3: A noted haematologist has warned that the cases of dengue fever would increase in the country if serious and preventive efforts were not taken immediately. Another speaker cautioned about the looming threat of Congo fever soon after Eidul Azha as the virus is transmitted through animal blood.

Medical Director, National Institute of Blood Disorders, Dr Tahir Shamsi said this in a seminar on the 'Role of media in health awareness' arranged by the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) at its Jamshoro campus on Wednesday.

Dr Shamsi who is also a pioneer in bone marrow transplantation in Pakistan said that the first outbreak of dengue fever was reported in 2006 in Karachi. The virus is spread by the female mosquito and the fever resurfaces after a gap of four or five years.

The WHO statistics reveal that around 10 million people in 100 countries are hit by this virus with 25,000 reported deaths, he said adding that haemorrhagic fever is reported in 10 to 20 per cent of dengue fever cases.

The patient endures bone cracking fever which subsides within three to four days, meanwhile lowering platelet count, said Dr Tahir Shamsi. He reminded that if a patient starts bleeding and platelets count drops to 50,000 then blood transfusion is necessary. However, even if the count is 30,000 and bleeding doesn't take place then transfusion is not needed, he said. He strictly forbade administering antibiotics to dengue fever patients if one is not suffering from any infection or typhoid.

Normally platelets begin recovering after four or five days, said the doctor.

Referring to dengue cases in Sindh during 2006, he said that 4,541 out of total 4,676 suspected cases were reported from Karachi with 1,504 testing positive among which were 70 per cent male patients and 46 deaths reported. There has been more than two-fold increase this October as compared to cases in 2006, he said. The virus would attack with vengeance in the years to come and would mellow down in the next bout, he said.

Singapore is the only country which has wiped out this virus completely, said Dr Shamsi while its vaccination was yet not prepared.

Stressing on media role in preparing the masses against the virus, he said that it was normally spread by clean but uncovered water.

He called upon the government to take up the issue earnestly and run dengue and malaria-related programmes jointly for creating awareness among the general public. He rebuffed that not every dengue fever patient needs hospitalisation as 60 to 70 per cent disease can be controlled through prevention.

He invited positive criticism from media on healthcare.

Prof Hussain Bux Kolachi of community medicine said that the National Health Plan has warned against spread of Congo virus during Eidul Azha.

The virus spreads from the blood of animals. Prof Munir Junejo urged the media to promote positive attitude as it would bring about sustainable changes in human behaviour and lessen their vulnerability to diseases. He said that the education is a vaccine against the diseases.