Panic among public due to fast spread of dengue in the region

Rawalpindi : There has been a great panic among the general public after appearance of a severe dengue fever outbreak that is hitting the population hard in a number of localities here in this region of the country, in Rawalpindi district and Islamabad Capital Territory particularly in the city areas, rural areas of the federal capital and peri-urban areas in Potohar Town.

Senior health officials serving here at the teaching hospitals in town are of the view that the majority of patients with fever are caught up in fear due to spread of dengue fever that is for sure a curable infection if managed medically in time. The phenomenon, however, has caused a great burden on healthcare facilities particularly in the public sector.

A survey conducted by ‘The News’ has revealed that the majority of patients having temperature these days suspect themselves as dengue fever patients and undergo blood examination even if they are not advised to do so by qualified physicians. Many health experts expressed to ‘The News’ that a number of patients having fever show strange and fearful behaviour these days and a patient if suspected of having dengue fever, feels stigmatized.

It has also been observed that many people have strange myths regarding treatment of dengue fever and a good number of ignorant suspects do not want to report to a government hospital even after appearance of dengue fever symptoms, said Head of Department of Infectious Diseases here at Holy Family Hospital Professor Dr. Muhammad Mujeeb Khan while talking to ‘The News’.

He added that it is also observed that the majority of individuals just want to talk about the spread of dengue fever at public gatherings instead of taking preventive measures religiously.

It is found that many patients including confirmed ones and those who have been suspected of contracting the infection when admitted to a hospital for management are playing the role of scaremongers when they are discharged after treatment, said a senior official at allied hospitals pleading anonymity.

Data collected by ‘The News’ has revealed that less than 18 per cent of the total patients reaching dengue fever outpatient departments at the three teaching hospitals in town including HFH, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital were requiring admission to the hospital while less than 15 per cent of the total patients reaching hospitals were tested positive for dengue fever.

The data also reveals that the dengue fever counters established at the hospitals are receiving an extraordinary heavy influx of patients and it is mainly because of the fear among the public. Almost everybody with little know-how about aspects of dengue fever visiting a hospital with temperature wants to get a complete picture of blood to know platelets count so that he can clear doubts from his mind through self-assessment which is not sane.

Experts say that lack of awareness among the public about various aspects of dengue fever, poor follow up of patients and weak surveillance both at individual and government levels are the major causes behind spread of dengue fever in the region. Health officials say that instead of panic, there is a need to avoid mosquito bites and individuals must follow preventive measures for that.

Health experts say that the photographs being published in sections of the press or the videos shown on media of the suspected or confirmed patients in bed nets in isolation wards of hospitals are creating harassment and panic in public.