RAWALPINDI: At least 59 fresh cases of dengue fever were registered on Monday in the three government-run hospitals of Rawalpindi, taking the reported tally of the mosquito-borne viral disease reported this year in the city to 4,501.
According to figures issued by Provincial Health Department, at least 59 more people were tested dengue positive while 10 people have already lost their lives due to this disease.
Out of the 59 cases, 30 were registered at Holy Family Hospital (HFH), 26 at Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and three at District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. However, no data is available from the private medical facilities in the city.
On the other hand, presiding over a session called to discuss anti-dengue efforts, Rawalpindi District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajid Zafar said that owing to the efforts of anti-dengue campaign, the spread of disease is watching a steady decline in the city.
“But the efforts will continue to kill the larvae of dengue mosquitoes,” said Zafar. Earlier last month, Rawalpindi police had asked Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to declare dengue an epidemic.
The police request was based on a city-wide research by special branch. A police officer who has been working on the research had expressed fear that the number of patients will hike up to thousands.
According to media reports, on October 29, a health department team discovered dengue mosquitoes inside Benazir Bhutto Hospitals’ hostel, the surgical ward and the hospital gardens. Another team found dengue mosquitoes at the Holy Family Hospital.
The disease has been affecting Rawalpindi and some other cities across the country. Rawal Town in Rawalpindi district is the worst affected area in the entire province of Punjab.