KHAIRPUR, Oct 8: With the admission of one more dengue fever patient, the figure has now climbed to 15 at the Civil Hospital Khairpur. Civil Surgeon Dr Aijaz Gajani confirming admission of 15th patient, a 15-year-old girl, in a month said that majority were released after treatment while six still remain in the hospital.

Reportedly, two youths succumbed to the fever on Thursday in different parts of the district.

Naseem Ahmed of Ameer Bux Narejo village said that his son Bakht Ali died after running high fever for three days. He died of fever and bleeding while being taken to a hospital in Gambat. Doctors suspect symptoms told by the father most likely of dengue fever.

Another boy Zameer of Mumtaz Channel area of Nara taluka also died of fever. His family considered it malaria but a doctor at rural health centre believed it was dengue fever death.

It’s a matter of concern that people treat person running fever as normal and go to private doctors instead of reporting at the Civil Hospital Khairpur and government hospitals in Kotdiji and Gambat where isolated wards for dengue patients are set up.

MALARIA: A large number of patients visiting the hospital were suffering from malaria because of the spreading of disease in the district after monsoon rains.

Dr Gajani confirmed quite a number of patients tested malaria positive.

People expressing grave concern demanded anti-mosquito over increasing number of malaria cases.

EDO (Health) Dr Ahsanullah Siyal said anti-mosquito spray was being carried out by the taluka municipal workers. The department had also provided technical staff and spray oil. He said the incidence of malaria fever increases every year after monsoon and similar conditions were being faced this year also.

DCO Mohammad Abbas Baloch said that they had provided machinery and spray medicines to taluka municipal authorities and fumigation was being carried out in various talukas while Khairpur city would also be covered soon.