LAHORE – The tall claims made by the Health Department and the government in curbing the dengue epidemic last year have proven false after Marium Zaib, a final year MBBS student at King Edward Medical University, was diagnosed positive with dengue fever. Marium is a boarder and lives in the girls’ hostel on the KEMU and Mayo Hospital premises. Marium was also diagnosed with dengue fever last year but recovered after treatment. On Tuesday, she was brought to the Mayo Hospital Emergency ICU after her medical reports showed an IGM for dengue virus positive.
Talking to Pakistan Today, a class fellow, Sheraz said, “Marium is in a critical condition and has developed a typical dengue rash all over her body. Her blood pressure is very low and her platelet count has fallen to almost 100,000. She is running the risk of getting dengue shock syndrome (the second most complicated stage), as her blood pressure is constantly falling.
We have shifted her to a private room for special care.” To a question, he said the result was confirmed in Eliza tests from Chughtai Labs, which tested positive and showed a decreasing platelet count. Last year, the Chief Minister sacked former Lahore health EDO Dr Fayyaz Ranjha and initiated an inquiry against him over his negligence in controlling the dengue epidemic. The decision was taken over negligence on spraying key areas including medical college hostels. Dr Umar Farooq was appointed the new health EDO to complete the anti-dengue spraying campaign. As a result, the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) and Health Department made tall claims about their ‘efforts’ to curb the deadly disease.
However, dengue has raised its head again, with the first case, ironically, coming from the KEMU hostel. Medical experts had warned the Health Department to properly spray leftover localities including hostels.
Mayo Hospital Microbiology Head Dr Tayyaba speaking to Pakistan Today said she could not confirm the case without analyzing the patients blood samples herself. She said that people should not worry since one case does not point to the start of an epidemic. “However, it is not good news if a case has appeared in the KEMU hostel. It means other students are also at risk.” –
