RAWALPINDI: As many as 110 dengue cases were reported in the Rawalpindi district on Thursday, taking the tally to 960 in the current season.

Moreover, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema asked the District Health Authority to send samples of the suspected new variant of the dengue virus to Rawalpindi Medical University for analysis.

“While the number of dengue patients is less compared to the last two years, the disease is emerging with more severity this year and experts suspect that it is a new variant,” said the DC while talking to Dawn. He said so far this year 960 cases have been reported compared to 1000 till September 26, 2023 and 1600 till Sept 26, 2022.

“This year, mostly people who contracted the virus suffered from dengue hemorrhagic fever,” he said.

According to the official data, the number of dengue cases reported from September 8 to September 26 shot up to 800. Till September 7, the total cases were 157 but it shot up to 960 on September 26.

Health authority told to send sample to RMU for analysis, says DC

He said it was observed through data that mostly people affected by the suspected new variant had already exposed to dengue fever in the past.

Mild dengue fever causes a high fever and flu-like symptoms. The severe form of dengue fever, also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause serious bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and death.

Dr Cheema said that the provincial government had asked private clinics and hospitals to prepare the data of patients who arrived with fever and flu-like symptoms.

“Rawalpindi Medical University on the directions of Punjab government has already started training of medical practitioners to manage dengue cases and no negligence will be tolerated in this regard,” he said.

He said that the district administration had directed the health authority to send teams immediately where dengue cases were reported so anti-dengue spray could be conducted around 40 houses from where the case had been reported.

He said that so far high risk union councils had been marked and indoor and outdoor surveillance was being conducted to eliminate the larvae and mosquitoes. “Chak Jalaldin, Girja, Dhoke Munshee, Kotha Kalan, Morgah, Gulistan Colony, Dhoke Syedan and adjoining areas are the high risk areas from where mostly patients have arrived,” he said.

The deputy commissioner said that he had asked the health authority to create awareness in areas where dengue had spread in previous years. He said 20 clinics on the wheels were conducting dengue tests and referring patients to nearest hospitals.

“As many as 352 patients were checked only at Chak Jalaldin and Gulistan Colony and referred to nearest hospitals. The patients’ complete blood picture and other tests were conducted in these mobile clinics,” he said.

Meanwhile, District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Asif Arbab Niazi on Thursday visited Pirwadhai and adjoining areas to inform people about preventive measures against dengue virus and distributed mosquito repellents. According to a health authority official, from January 1 to September 26, a total of 1322 sites were sealed, 3272 FIRs registered against violators, 2409 challans issued and Rs1.6 million fine imposed.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2024