KARACHI, Oct 11: Fifteen more patients suspected to having contracted dengue fever were admitted to four private and government hospitals in the city on Wednesday, bringing the total number of in-house dengue patients to 93, as the EDO (health) continued to maintain that the situation was under control and not alarming.According to an estimate, the number of patients with suspected viral haemorrhagic fever in the city has crossed the figure of 400 while data from a couple of big private and other health care units are not available due to a lack of coordination.

The personnel concerned at the Liaquat National hospital said that eight new patients of suspected VHF were brought to the hospital on Wednesday, leading the figure to 26. “Since June 6, we have received about 250 VHF patients, four of whom expired and 85 were confirmed being dengue-positive,” the personnel added.

The focal person of the Dengue Fever Cell of the Sindh government, Captain Dr Abdul Majid, said that six of the patients admitted during the last 7-10 days at the LNH, JPMC, CHK and Dr Ziauddin Hospital were discharged after treatment on Wednesday.

In the meantime, CHK received two new cases bringing the number of those admitted there to 21. The JPMC received three and Dr Ziauddin Hospital two new cases.

On Wednesday, LNH had 26, CHK 13, Dr Ziauddin 21 and JMPC 26 such patients, said Captain Majid, adding that AKU and some other hospitals were also being pursued to submit details of the VHF or dengue patients on a day to day basis.

Replying to a question, he said that the advertisements pertaining to public awareness of dengue fever had been finalised and would start appearing in newspapers in a couple of days. He said that the district government Karachi was also to issue such advertisements soon.

When contacted, EDO Health Dr A. D. Sajnani told Dawn that he had gathered from different hospitals that the number of suspected VHF patients admitted to different hospitals during the past few weeks had touched a tally of 279 on Wednesday and of those succumbing to the disease had risen to 13.

He said that city government, in collaborations with town administrations, had already completed one week of its 18-day campaign to eliminate mosquitoes and flies. “As soon as the campaign is over, we will design a campaign for the elimination of mosquito larvicidal activity, and health education,” he added.

He said that he was of the firm belief that the situation pertaining to dengue fever spread was fully under control, and there was no alarming development. “The hype is being created unnecessarily,” he asserted.

In reply to a question, Dr Sajnani dispelled the impression that the local government was wasting money in the name of fumigation and fogging which was being done inappropriately. “We are well aware of the timings for fumigation and let me clarify that since we have to get rid of both mosquitoes and flies, we carry out fumigation in day time,” he said, adding that towns were carrying out fumigation at the time of sunset and sunrise as well.