ISLAMABAD, June 18: The capital territory administration has triggered a dengue alert for the rural area and declared Sector G-6 as a high-risk area for a possible outbreak of the disease in the upcoming monsoon season.

According to figures gathered by this reporter, last year five hospitals in the capital had registered over 1,000 dengue cases and 680 were confirmed to be suffering from the disease.

Chief Commissioner Islamabad Tariq Pirzada said the patients – 78 per cent males and 22 per cent females – were treated at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Polyclinic, Capital Development Hospital, KRL Hospital and a private hospital.

He said 48 per cent of the dengue positive patients were from rural and 52 per cent from the urban areas. “The urban area dengue positive patients hailed from Khyber Pkahtunkhwa and Punjab,” he added.

Asked which were the high-risk areas of the capital city, he said: “Sector G-6 in the urban area and Tarnol, Bhara Kahu, Shakrial, Bahria Town and parts of Khana Bridge in the rural.”

Mr Pirzada said that learning from their past experience, the ICT administration had already started a fumigation campaign in the rural parts of the city.

“Till now, we have spotted some 216 locations where massive fumigations drive is continuing for the last two weeks and the campaign will end by June 26.”

The commissioner said as per a briefing given by his experts to contain the spread of the disease, citizens have to cooperate with the civic agency (CDA) in the urban areas while in the rural areas the ICT administration is actively working on
disposing of the solid waste.

Solid waste locations are the breeding ground for the mosquitoes and the residents should also cover clean water storage pots or even bathtubs to contain the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, executive director of Pims, Prof Mahmood Jamal, said elaborate arrangements were in place at the hospital and specific rooms had been designated for the patients.

He said Pims was provided platelets machines last year by the prime minister’s office.

“We have three platelets segregation machines and are prepared to meet any dengue outbreak,” added Prof Jamal.

It is pertinent to mention that dengue patients need transfusion of platelets which is vital for saving their lives. Platelets are needed when a patient’s blood does not have the normal clotting ability.

According to an administration official, Polyclinic was also given one platelet machine.