The medical community is divided over the medical tests for detecting dengue among patients resulting in confusion regarding the resurfacing of dengue cases in the province, Pakistan today has learnt. The CM’s advisory board on dengue under Dr Faisal Masood has rejected the traditional tests of IGG and IGM to diagnose any patient with dengue and has instead recommended NS1 test. The doctors recommend NS1 on the basis that IGG and IGM antibodies could also appear in patients with flu and not necessarily dengue virus. However, medical experts on the other hand have said the NS1 test does not detect dengue virus after passage of 5 to 7 days. This has resulted in a lot of confusion for doctors in diagnostic side and other stakeholders as well. Seven suspected dengue cases were reported in Mayo Hospital on Saturday, while no one detected NS1 test and hence the possibility of dengue was dispelled.
However, sources revealed that “unofficially” two dengue victims were taken to Mayo Hospital Lahore Farooq and Razia, both having been shifted to dengue wards of the hospital.
Hospital MS Dr Zahid Pervaiz, however, said no new case has been appeared and only suspects have come. He said NS1 tests have been conducted but did not confirm dengue.
