27 more test positive for dengue from the region

Rawalpindi:As many as 27 patients have been confirmed positive for dengue fever from the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in the last four days taking the total number of confirmed patients of the infection so far registered from the region to 112 on Thursday.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Thursday has revealed that in the last 24 hours, as many as 12 patients belonging to the federal capital have tested positive for dengue fever of which six have been undergoing treatment at public sector hospitals in Rawalpindi including Holy Family Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital.

Data reveals that to date, a total of 63 individuals have tested positive for dengue fever from Rawalpindi district while 49 confirmed cases of the infection have so far been reported from Islamabad Capital Territory. The number of patients being tested positive for the infection from this region of the country has started registering a continuous upward trend for the last two weeks or so, during and after rains in the region.

On Thursday, a total of 17 dengue fever patients were undergoing treatment at HFH and DHQ Hospital of which nine have already been confirmed positive while results in eight cases are being awaited. To date, the infection has claimed no life from the region. According to health experts, the trend of the dengue fever cases being reported from the twin cities hints towards a possible outbreak of the infection in the coming days. The peak season for transmission of dengue fever has almost set in and the situation may become alarming in the next couple of weeks if proper preventive measures are not followed by the concerned government authorities and individuals.

It is important that the peak season for dengue fever transmission in this region of the country starts in the beginning or middle of September and lasts till November. The epidemiological data on the basis of dengue fever outbreaks reported in the last 16 years or so reveals that in routine, the first cases of dengue fever appear in this region of the country by the end of July or in the middle of August while sporadic cases, reported before August do not cross the figure of 10 generally.

Experts fear that the population in this region of the country may face a serious threat of dengue fever transmission in the next month, September, and onwards, which is termed as the peak season for the transmission of the infection. Experts say that it is time for the general public to remain vigilant and follow proper preventive measures to eliminate breeding sites of mosquitoes inside homes and offices.

Usually, ‘aedes aegypti’, the vector that causes dengue fever lay the first eggs of the year in the beginning of May and the mosquito density is maximal in early July, late August and early September while the egg laying activity remains until November though the larval density reaches to its peak in September.

The epidemiological findings reveal that a surge in dengue fever cases is expected after the rains and it has been happening this year. Experts say that it is time for individuals to look for sites and places inside or outside homes that can attract rain water and provide a favorable place for the female ‘aedes’ mosquitoes to lay eggs. It is time to eliminate all possible breeding sites to prevent or check the severity of the outbreak that, according to health experts, is around the corner.