The number of confirmed dengue cases in the Punjab has reportedly reached 10, 8 of which are citizens of Lahore, sources in Punjab Health Department said on Friday.
Suspected cases of dengue fever have touched an alarming number of 1,031, of which 811 were reported in Lahore alone. However, sources in the Health Department claim that the confirmed cases of dengue are a total of 10, with 8 cases in the provincial capital.
One patient is currently undergoing treatment for dengue fever in Mayo Hospital, while several people have turned up at the hospital with similar symptoms.
On Friday, two tyre godowns were sealed after dengue larvae was discovered by Punjab health officials in Batti Chowk area of the city.
Dengue larva was found junkyard on Thursday near the Chief Secretary’s house in GOR-I during routine surveillance. The larva was found in an open space in the junkyard owned by Communication and Works Department.
“The larva was destroyed by using an insecticide,” District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal said.
While officials scramble to avoid another dengue outbreak in the province, 34,000 citizens have signed up to volunteer for a campaign against dengue with Social Welfare Department Punjab.
This was announced by Social Welfare Punjab Director General Malik Aslam at a meeting held at his office on Friday. He said that a team of officials, volunteers, workers from the welfare department and healthcare workers will actively pursue a campaign to raise awareness about dengue larvae and the precautionary measures people can take to protect themselves against the disease. He added that volunteers will also be stationed at hospitals to raise awareness and to donate blood if required.
The previous year witnessed a serious dengue epidemic in the country. Around 300 people across the province lost their lives, while an alarming 21,204 people were reportedly infected as late as November 2011. Not only did the mosquito-borne disease claim hundreds of lives, it also led to the death of Punjab Secretary Mineral Development Corporation Ataullah Siddiqui, Punjab MPA Mumtaz Jajja and member of the Punjab Public Service Commission, Ghiasuddin. Eith Chinese engineers were also affected.
Dengue epidemic is on the rise because of the high cost of its treatment. As a response to the alarming number of deaths, Pakistan Army set up 300 camps in Lahore to provide relief. The Government of Punjab also opened a hotline called Punjab Health Line Project For Dengue which can be reached at 0800-99000, to provide information to people about symptoms and to identify what areas have been affected by the disease.
There was also a lot of international support in the fight against the dengue epidemic. The Sri Lankan government sent a group of 12 doctors to Lahore, and the Indonesian government dispatched a team of 20 dengue experts to assist Pakistani authorities.
Despite such measures, dengue is on the rise again this year, with dengue larvae being discovered in several different localities in the city and suspected patients turning up at hospitals across the city with symptoms.
