Dengue claims another life in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi: The dengue fever outbreak that is hitting the population hard in a number of localities in Rawalpindi district has claimed another life taking the total number of deaths so far caused by the infection from the district to seven this year.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Friday has revealed that a 40-year old male who was a resident of Indus Road No.2 Rafiabad, Tariqaad in Lalkurti area died of dengue fever here at Holy Family Hospital in town. ‘The News’ has learnt that the patient was suffering from Dengue Shock Syndrome. It is also worth mentioning here that all the seven deaths caused by dengue fever from Rawalpindi district this year have been reported in the last six weeks or so.

Data provided by the district health authority on Friday has also revealed that the total number of dengue fever patients so far reported from the district has reached 3,279 of which as many as 252 were undergoing treatment at teaching hospitals in Rawalpindi on Friday morning.

In the last 48 hours, another 212 patients have tested positive for dengue fever from Rawalpindi district. Experts say that such a great number of patients being confirmed positive for the infection at the time is alarming particularly in a situation when almost all the roads leading to Rawalpindi city have blockades.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Friday also reveals that to date, a total of 2,276 patients belonging to Islamabad Capital Territory have tested positive for dengue fever this year including 1,420 cases from rural areas and 856 patients from urban areas of the federal capital. According to the district health office Islamabad, the infection has so far claimed no life from the federal capital this year.