Rise in number of dengue cases from Pindi recorded

Rawalpindi : A tremendous increase in the number of dengue fever cases is being recorded from Rawalpindi district from where as many as 70 individuals have tested positive for the infection in the last 48 hours showing that the spread of the infection is getting faster with each passing day.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Saturday reveals that the total number of patients so far tested positive for dengue fever from Rawalpindi district has crossed the figure of 300 and the dengue fever has been hitting population severely in various localities in the district. To date, a total of 306 patients have been confirmed positive from Rawalpindi district while majority of the cases are being reported from Potohar Town. Out of 70 cases tested positive from the district, as many as 44 have been reported from Potohar Town. The worst hit areas include Chak Jalal Din and localities along Girja Road and Adyala Road.

Many health experts say that the situation regarding spread of dengue fever is getting out of control and it can be gauged from the fact that out of a total of 306 patients so far confirmed positive from Rawalpindi district, as many as 117 have been reported in the last four days.

Not only is the number of patients being tested positive from the district on the rise but also the burden on public sector hospitals is registering a sharp upward trend. It is alarming that well over 90 dengue fever patients were undergoing treatment at various healthcare facilities in this region of the country including the three teaching hospitals in Rawalpindi namely Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital on Saturday morning.

Data reveals that the number of patients being tested positive for dengue fever is much higher as compared to the number of dengue fever patients reported from the region before the advent of September this year. Till August 31 this year, the total number of patients reported from Rawalpindi district was around 78. In the last two weeks, well over 228 patients have been tested positive for dengue fever from the district and the average number of patients being registered per day is on a tremendous increase. It is important to mention that dengue fever has already claimed one life from the district.