Limited outbreak hits Bhara Kahu

Islamabad :Population in a locality namely Mangu Town, located along Colonel Amanullah Road in Bhara Kahu area of the federal capital has been severely hit by a limited dengue fever outbreak and the number of confirmed cases of the infection is continuously on the rise.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Monday has revealed that to date, a total of 24 confirmed patients of dengue fever from Union Council Bhara Kahu have been registered at the public sector hospitals in Islamabad while total number of confirmed cases of the infection so far reported from the federal capital is 93.

Of these 93 patients so far confirmed for dengue fever, as many as 41 are residents of rural areas of the federal capital while 26 belong to Islamabad urban.

According to break up, a total of 24 patients have been tested positive from localities falling in Union Council Bhara Kahu, four from UC Tarlai, three from UC Tarnol, six from Sohan, two from PWD area in Union Council Koral and one each from Shah Allah Ditta and Kirpa, said Additional District Health Officer at ICT Health Department Dr. Muhammad Najeeb Durrani while talking to ‘The News’ on Monday.

He added that of 93 patients so far tested positive at Islamabad hospitals, 13 are from Punjab province including nine from Rawalpindi, four are from AJ&K, while nine patients reached hospitals from districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including six patients from Peshawar, two from Haripur and one from Mansehra.

A limited outbreak of dengue fever has hit population in Mangu Town in Bhara Kahu area however the teams of ICT health department have started extensive fumigation in the localities along Col. Amanullah Road, the badly hit area, said Dr. Durrani while responding to a query.

He said the number of cases of dengue fever being reported from the affected area in Bhara Kahu is on the rise at present and it is so because these patients were bitten by dengue fever vector, mosquitoes last week.

We hope the situation would be under control soon as three teams of ICT health department have been carrying out fumigation activity including insecticidal residual spray in two shifts, morning and evening and the teams did not avail day offs even on Saturday and Sunday, he said.

He added along with fumigation drive, an extensive awareness and indoor surveillance campaign has also been launched in the area with the help of as many as 70 lady health workers. The LHWs have been visiting door-to-door for creating awareness among public and for identification and elimination of larvae and adult mosquitoes inside houses, said Dr. Durrani.