500 hospitalised due to toxic smog

LAHORE:As many as 500 people have fallen sick due to toxic smog and reached the emergencies of local hospitals, during the last 24 hours.

The smog has become a real threat to citizens in the provincial metropolis, as the air pollution rate in the provincial capital increased to an alarming level.Lahore is again on the top of the world’s most polluted cities these days.

According to the Punjab Health Department (PHD) sources, more than 200 patients reached Jinnah Hospital, 150 patients each reached Mayo and Gangaram Hospitals.Prof Ashraf Zia of Jinnah Hospital told APP that complaints of dry cough, sore throat, itchy eyes and difficulty in breathing are being reported due to smog.

He said that number of patients have also been increased with problems of nose, ear, throat and lungs.Medical experts have suggested that the respiratory patients should take special precautions during smog, adding they should not go out of their homes, making sure to use masks and glasses and using dry fruits and coffee. Smog and the air pollution are one of the main factors associated with the development of allergic respiratory disease, the experts said adding that it has been shown to impair lung development in children and adolescents.

169 new dengue cases reported

Punjab remains in the clutches of dengue fever, as 169 new cases were reported just on Friday.The most recent data from the Health Department indicates a total of 9,862 confirmed dengue cases across Punjab this year.

Lahore takes the lead in this unfortunate count with a staggering 4,215 cases, closely followed by Rawalpindi with 2,318, Multan with 1,001, Faisalabad with 446, and Gujranwala with 831 cases.

The situation is ongoing, as Lahore reports an additional 90 new dengue cases, Rawalpindi 16, Multan 17, Gujranwala 26, and Faisalabad nine.Sheikhupura reported three cases of dengue, while Kasur recorded two new cases in the same time period.

Attock, Sialkot, Lodharan, Pakpatan, Khoshab, and Vehari reported one case each in 24 hours.Currently, 148 dengue patients are under treatment in various hospitals across Punjab, with 68 of them in Lahore district hospitals.

Secretary Health Punjab Ali Jaan Khan has urged people to keep their surroundings clean and dry as a preventive measure against dengue fever.He urged cooperation with Health Department teams who are tirelessly working to combat this outbreak.

People could seek information about dengue fever and treatment at free helpline 1033.