Dengue claims nine more lives

Dengue hemorrhagic fever claimed another nine lives during last 24 hours and the total number of death has reached to 186, of which 168 are from Lahore. Director General Health Punjab Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry told reporters at a media briefing here on Friday that considerable decrease is being witnessed in the dengue fever patients and the rush of patients in the outdoors of the hospitals is also declining.
According to him, as many as 312 confirmed dengue cases have been reported in Punjab during last 24 hours, of which, 258 related to Lahore. The total number of dengue patients in Punjab reached to 14760, of which, 12761 are from Lahore. About 14448 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals of Punjab so far, out of which 12503 belonged to Lahore. At present 1592 patients are under treatment in various hospitals of the province out of which 1297 patients are in the hospitals of Lahore.
Those died due to dengue fever are: Khalida Bibi (30), Yaseen (17), Wahab (32), Sharif (62), Abdur Rauf (50), Saad (11), Zareena (48), Majid (30) and Khalid (25). Head of Indonesian medical team Dr Rita stressed the need for collective efforts for controlling dengue virus. She also appreciated the steps of Punjab government in this regard.
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Friday said, though it is a difficult task, but dengue virus will soon be brought under control with the co-operation of experts and the masses. Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry told reporters that government is deeply concerned over the deaths taking place due to dengue hemorrhagic fever and medical experts are making efforts for controlling these deaths. He said that treatment is being provided to the patients in ICUs as per unanimous guidelines recommended by senior professors.
DG Health further said that besides providing 10,000 medicated mosquito nets to the patients in teaching hospitals, complete anti-mosquito spray has also been carried out in the hospitals. He said that medical experts of Indonesia are assisting the doctors in providing treatment to the dengue patients in highly dependency units of hospitals.
Vice-Chancellor King Edward Medical University Dr Asad Aslam Khan said that 40 per cent decrease has been witnessed in the patients of common fever coming to the hospitals. He further said that the rush of patients has decreased than before in Mayo Hospital.
Dr Aslam Chaudhry informed the media-men that 10 seminars have been arranged in various towns of Lahore for creating awareness among the masses during the last 24 hours in which 11600 pamphlets were distributed and steps regarding indoor spray and vector control have been taken in 2780 houses of 43 union councils.
Moreover, CBC test of 21107 patients were conducted in 10 blood centres set up in Lahore. He informed that a seminar is being organised on Saturday at Alhamra Lahore regarding dengue for creating awareness among private doctors in which Indonesian medical experts and members of committee comprising senior professors will participate. Further, in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Mian Mohsin Latif, it was decided that cleanliness of closed houses in the revenue limits of Gulberg Town would be made under the law.
He directed to start survey of those houses remaining closed for a long time, as these were the ideal breeding places for dengue mosquito and people for identification of those houses must cooperate with the town administration as well. He warned that owners of tyre-shops should not keep tyres at open places or outside of their shops after cleaning them during dengue campaign. Violation in this regard, the concerned shops will be sealed, he added.
Member Provincial Assembly and Co-Chairman Samanabad Town Emergency Response Committee for Dengue, Hafiz Mian Muhammad Nauman said that planning is underway to launch a new project to curb dengue virus like Malaria Eradication Programme. The project will remain functional till complete eradication of dengue.
Hafiz Nauman said that long term planning is needed for the eradication of dengue. He said that keeping in view the seriousness of dengue virus, implementation of the new project has been almost decided. He said that Malaria Eradication Programme was introduced in the past to curb Malaria fever, which produced excellent results and due to this programme Malaria was eradicated from the country and now to work on the same lines has become the need of the hour.