SWABI: The prevalence of viral diseases among people in Swabi district has shot up due to the continued drought-like situation and severe cold weather.

Doctors in the District Headquarters Hospital, Swabi, and Shahmansoor Hospital Complex said on Friday that the number of patients with severe flu, throat infection, cough, respiratory tract infection, fever, chest diseases and asthma had increased during the past two weeks.

Dr Mohammad Riaz of civil hospital, Marghuz, said that the increasing prevalence of flu and common cold was because of no rains during the last three months.

“We call it common cold, which is widespread infectious viral disease, causing inflammation of the mucous membranes of nose, throat and bronchial tubes. The disease is transmitted by coughing and sneezing,” he said.

Some of the residents said that most of their family members had been suffering from cold-related diseases. Gul Amin of Topi city said that he along with his wife and three children had been suffering from severe headache, fever and cough for the last three days.

When contacted, district health officer Dr Ihsan Akbar said that cold-related diseases were linked with frosty and dry weather and if it rained in the next few days such diseases could be brought under control. He said that people should take precautionary measures and timely contact doctors in case of any disease.

TWO HELD: Police on Friday arrested two persons, including a court bailiff, and allegedly seized five kilogrammes of charas from their car here.

SHO Topi city police told mediapersons that following a tip-off the police stopped a car (LWE-9066) on Zaida road and during checking recovered five kilogrammes of charas, a Kalashnikov and pistol.

The arrested men were identified as Babar Raheem of Thandkoi village of Swabi and Tahir of Abbottabad. Police said that Tahir was a court bailiff in Abbottabad. The Topi city police have registered a case against the two.

FUNCTION POSTPONED: The annual parents’ day function of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Cadet College, Swabi, has been postponed. It was planned to be held on Saturday (today).

When contacted, director studies Mohammad Iqbal said that they had postponed the function due to persistent foggy weather, as it would be difficult for parents to come from far-flung cities.

Published in Dawn December 20th , 2014