ISLAMABAD: Owing to efforts of the District Health Department and other stakeholders, a decline has been seen in cases of both dengue fever and Covid-19 in the federal capital.

According to data, 38 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 and 12 contracted dengue fever during the last 24 hours.

The coronavirus positivity ratio in the federal capital remained at 1.1pc on Sunday. On the other hand, even though Covid-19 cases have greatly reduced in Rawalpindi district, dengue fever patients continued to surface. As per data, five Covid-19 patients were detected in the district whereas 44 people contracted dengue fever. As many as 336 suspected dengue patients were admitted to hospitals in the garrison city.

In another development, Covid-19 vaccination of children aged between 12 to 15 years has been suspended from Monday (today) till Nov 27. Three vaccines - Pfizer, Sinopharm and Sinovac - will be given to them from Nov 28 onwards.

No let up in number of dengue patients in Rawalpindi; Children’s coronavirus vaccination suspended till Nov 27

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia told Dawn that the weekly Covid-19 positivity ratio had been fluctuating as last week it was 0.8pc and a week earlier it was 1.06pc.

“This has been a result of vaccination, as Islamabad is the only city in the country which has fully or partially vaccinated around 90pc of its residents,” he said.

Dr Zia further said from Monday, a campaign against measles and rubella was going to start, therefore Covid-19 immunisation of children was being suspended.

It is worth mentioning that during the campaign against measles and rubella, children aged between nine months and 15 years will be vaccinated across the country. The campaign will end on Nov 27.

While replying to another question on dengue, Dr Zia said the highest number of cases were reported in the third week of October after which a decline was seen.

“During the first week of the current month, 506 cases were reported and during last week (from Nov 7-12) only 249 patients were reported,” he said.

Rawalpindi

As many as 10 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovering from Covid-19 during the last 24 hours, with the positivity rate calculated at 0.3pc.

As per data shared by the District Health Authority, a total of 1,431 samples were collected out of which 1,426 were declared negative.

There are currently 81 active patients in the district out of whom 16 patients are in hospitals and 65 home isolated.

Two patients arrived from Potohar Town and one from city areas while one patient each came from Gujar Khan and Taxila.

Five patients are under treatment in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), seven patients in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), three patients in Fauji Foundation Hospital and one patient in Bilal Hospital.

Meanwhile, according to Rawalpindi Medical University’s data, 292 suspected dengue fever patients arrived in Holy Family Hospital and 44 were brought to District Headquarters Hospital.

The report said 22 new dengue patients were shifted to Holy Family Hospital, 13 were taken to Benazir Bhutto Hospital and nine were brought to District Headquarters Hospital, whereas 41 patients were admitted to Holy Family Hospital, 31 were being treated in Benazir Bhutto Hospital and 25 in District Headquarters Hospital.

A total of 41 patients recovered in the garrison city and were discharged from hospitals during the last 24 hours, the report stated, adding that 4,606 patients arrived in hospitals while 3,221 were confirmed dengue patients (till Nov 14) including 1,865 from Holy Family Hospital, 856 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital and 500 in District Headquarters Hospital.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2021