Chikungunya cases surge in Mansehra

MANSEHRA: Suspected chikungunya cases on Thursday surged to over 90 in the Mansehra district.According to Health Department officials, more patients with chikungunya symptoms were being brought to the health facilities across the district.

National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad is the only diagnostic laboratory in the country, which analysed samples of mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus and takes at least two to four weeks to issue its reporters either positive or negative.

“People are advised to end mosquito breeding grounds in their respective areas and homes to do away with chikungunya virus which mostly symptoms in its patients alike dengue fever,” an official in the Health Department said.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has yet to establish such a laboratory or upgrade its existing facilities to a level to analyse samples of mosquito-borne diseases.The official said that fumigation spray, which was also being carried out at hotspots for dengue also plays a pivotal role in curbing the outbreak of chikungunya, which was still a unique phenomenon in the country.

“Seven more suspected cases have been reported in the district in recent days, increasing the total number of chikungunya cases to 90,” Dr Faisal Khanzada, the district health officer, told reporters here.

He shared the Integrated Dieses Surveillance and Responsive System’s latest report which said that NIH had confirmed 14 chikungunya cases to date and more were queued for analysis.

“We have not hospitalised even a single patient who has either tested positive or suspected for the chikungunya,” Dr Faisal said.He said that so far 3 of 14 confirmed chikungunya patients have recovered.

“The Nika Pani Union Council has proven to be worst hit for this mosquito-borne virus in the district where 11 positive cases have been reported and three of them recovered so far,” Dr Faisal said.