As many as 82 cases of unconfirmed dengue, 59 in Lahore alone, were reported from various hospitals of Punjab on Sunday. Per details suspected dengue patients visited outdoor patients departments (OPDs) of various hospitals on Sunday. Around 41 patients were admitted to Mayo Hospital Lahore, 13 to Ganga Ram Hospital, three to Services Hospital, one to Jinnah Hospital and one to Lahore General Hospital (LGH).
At least five other cases were reported in Sheikhupura, three in Gujranwala, two in Sialkot, while several other districts reported a case each. The blood samples of suspected patients have been sent to the advisory committee for verification.
Dr Saeed Elahi, parliamentary secretary on health, said dengue could not be eliminated altogether, but all possible steps were being taken to reduce the chances of a major outbreak. He said about 21 experts from various countries were present in Lahore and coordinating with the Punjab government to cope with the epidemic.
He said anti-dengue sprays would start within three to four days in the city to eliminate dengue mosquitoes.
A spokesman for the Punjab Health Department the department had already issued instructions to all public sector hospitals to carry out NS-I test of dengue suspected cases for confirmation during an endemic situation, as advised by the Dengue Experts Advisory Group headed by Prof Faisal Masood. The spokesman added that the number of suspected patients being quoted by the was in fact the number of patients suspected of the disease over the last two months, adding that all cases did not erupt on Sunday.
He said NS-I test of a dengue suspect admitted to Mayo Hospital had been conducted and the result had been negative.
The health official added that guidelines prepared by the Dengue Experts Advisory Group for diagnosing and treating dengue patients during endemic season had already been issued to the administration of all public sector hospitals across Punjab. According to unofficial data, a total of around 470 people died of dengue in 2010 and 2011.
Last year, at least 22,000 people were diagnosed with the deadly disease, while around 17,000 people contracted the illness the previous year.