KARACHI, Sept 28: As many as 19 fresh cases suspected of having contracted the deadly dengue fever have been reported from four different health facilities of the city during the last 24 hours ending at 3pm.
According to sources in the monitoring cell of the Sindh health department, most of the prominent hospitals in the private sector are not cooperating with the relevant authorities in the compilation of dengue-related data.
As many as seven cases have been tested positive for dengue at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, one at the Civil Hospital Karachi, eight at Darul Sehat, two at the Aga Khan University Hospital and one at Bismillah Taqee.
Meanwhile, the city government on Friday notified Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Government Hospital New Karachi as the focal points for diagnosis and management of cases related to mosquito-borne diseases.
CDGK sources said that these two major hospitals had been equipped with all the facilities required for the treatment and diagnosis of dengue fever. Besides, the city government had also provided diagnostic kits to all of its main hospitals so that patients could avail themselves of the necessary medical attention absolutely free of cost, the sources added.
Free tests and treatment of dengue fever has also been arranged at the Civil Hospital Karachi and the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
All the private hospitals have been asked to refer cases of dengue and haemorrhagic fever to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital or Government Hospital New Karachi to provide them timely and better treatment under intensive care.
The health department has also chalked out a comprehensive programme to create public awareness about the causes and treatment of dengue and haemorrhagic fever.
People have been advised to take necessary measures including installation of protective nets on doors and windows and carrying out fumigation inside their homes.
Dengue fever is caused by a specific type of mosquito that bites only during daytime, especially around the time of sunrise and sunset. The breading of such mosquitoes takes place only in clean water containers, like drums, buckets, etc.There is no specific treatment for dengue fever.
However, careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses frequently saves the lives of the DHF patients. With appropriate intensive supportive therapy, mortality may be reduced to less than one per cent. Maintenance of the circulating fluid volume is the central feature of the DHF case management.
Fumigation drive from Oct 3
The city government plans to embark on a large-scale fumigation campaign in the city from Oct 3. The ongoing spray campaign of health department of the city government scheduled to end on Oct 2 will be continued with a fresh and more aggressive exercise from Oct 3 in all the 18 towns of the city.—Agencies