Tag: dengue

  • Dengue outbreak expected in October

    Dengue outbreak expected in October

    A warning issued by Pakistan Metreological Department (PMD) on Friday has warned of a possible outbreak of Dengue in the coming October, particularly in big cities like Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Larkana and Multan.

    The PMD warned that dengue fever had deepened its roots and impacted the health of people over the last 10 years. A spokesperson said that fever season is especially strong during the post-monsoon season — September 20 to December 5.

    1026 patients have been brought to the hospitals in the current season.

    A rain emergency has been imposed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Water and Sanitation Authority is advised to drain out the water in three shifts only to avoid the accumulation of water that provokes dengue breeding.

    Dawn quotes the PMD spokesperson as saying, “Dengue triggers during those periods when the temperature and humidity threshold remains 26-29 degrees Celsius (3-5 weeks) and 60 per cent, respectively. Moreover, rainfall remains more than 27mm with a maximum time lag period of three weeks. The active period for dengue attacks is two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset.”

    Once the temperature falls below 16°C, the breeding starts declining as well. Past analysis and especially the retreat of monsoon provides an ideal environment for a dengue outbreak, he stressed.

    After this public caution, the PMD advised all stakeholders to take preventive measures for the dengue outbreak.

  • Dengue cases rise amid monsoon rains in Lahore

    Dengue cases rise amid monsoon rains in Lahore

    Authorities have destroyed dengue larvae found in 1,555 locations in Lahore during the past 24 hours.

    According to reports, monsoon rains and changing weather have accelerated the spread of dengue. During this period, dengue larvae were discovered at over 1,500 sites, leading to 1,460 notices being issued.

    Samaa News reports that according to the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore, Rafia Haider, 95 cases have been filed for violations of SOPs.

    Authorities have issued notices to 47,539 individuals and registered 2,360 cases for serious SOP violations so far this year.

  • Hajra Yamin opens up about battling Dengue fever and Hepatitis

    Hajra Yamin opens up about battling Dengue fever and Hepatitis

    Hajra Yamin, the talented theater and film actor, began her acting journey on stage. She has starred in popular Pakistani dramas like ‘Mohabbat Chor Di Maine’, ‘Jindo’, ‘Jalan’, but is also recognized for her outspoken views on various social issues.
    Recently, Hajra appeared on Nadia Khan’s latest Ramadan show on Green Entertainment where she talked about her experience of feeling helpless when she got sick with dengue fever.

    “Two years ago, I caught Dengue fever from a set, it was the second time I got infected. All my tests were coming back negative. A doctor gave me antibiotics, which caused hepatitis A. My liver got damaged. During Dengue fever, you can’t take antibiotics because they react badly. At that time, COVID was also at its peak. I was so sick, I was choking when I called the doctor, who immediately suggested I go to the emergency room. None of my friends helped me; strangers took me to the hospitals.”

    She also added, “Those who claim they are Sufi are the most fake people.”

  • New dengue cases reported across Punjab

    New dengue cases reported across Punjab

    New cases of dengue are being reported across Punjab. In Lahore alone, 18 confirmed cases have been reported in the past 24 hours while 83 confirmed cases were reported in less than a week.

    According to Dunya News, more than 30,000 dengue hotspots were found in the city by the government officials. Doctors are advising people to strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    Similarly, dengue cases in Rawalpindi crossed 100 last week with at least 13 more patients diagnosed in the last 24 hours while 63 FIRs registered, 18 tickets issued, and 28 premises were sealed.

    District Coordinator Epidemics Prevention and Control Dr Sajjad Mehmood said the Rawalpindi administration registered as many as 1,802 FIRs on violations of anti-dengue SOPs from January 1 to date in various areas of the district.

    The Express Tribune has reported that the district administration, in collaboration with allied departments, had sealed 438 premises, issued tickets to 646 and a fine of Rs31,33,000 was imposed on violations of dengue SOPs in 2023.

    On August 23, Business Recorder reported that up till now, since January 1, 2023, a total of 678 confirmed dengue cases had been recorded in all the 36 districts of Punjab but fortunately there have been no deaths.

    Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir has stated that on directions of caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi, special dengue centres have been established in district and tehsil headquarters hospitals, which will provide free treatment to dengue patients.

    Dr Nasir has also claimed that larva monitoring has been increased throughout Punjab and strict legal action will be taken against the violators.

  • Pervaiz Elahi lifts ban on ad hoc appointments of doctors in Punjab

    Pervaiz Elahi lifts ban on ad hoc appointments of doctors in Punjab

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, has on Tuesday lifted a ban on ad-hoc appointments of doctors and nurses, reports The Nation.

    After the provincial Health Department forwarded a summary to the CM, the government allowed ad hoc appointment of doctors and paramedics to meet the severe shortage of health officials in public health facilities across Punjab.

    In a meeting chaired by Elahi, it was decided to extend the Health Card programme in an improved manner.

    According to the notification, both the health departments – Specialized Healthcare and Primary Health – are allowed to fill the vacant posts of doctors and paramedics on an impromptu basis.

    While the country continues to grapple with the ongoing devastation caused by floods, waterborne dengue infection has broken out in all four provinces, with panic and fear spreading among the public. According to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare secretary, 2,278 confirmed dengue cases and four deaths had so far been reported in the province this year.

  • Papaya juice doesn’t cure Dengue fever: Busting 5 dengue fever myths

    Papaya juice doesn’t cure Dengue fever: Busting 5 dengue fever myths

    With the rise of Dengue cases in the country, myths related to the disease are also re-surfacing. Dengue is a potentially fatal fever, with a severe version of the disease called dengue hemorrhagic fever causing internal bleeding which could lead to death.

    Many ambiguous misconceptions surround our understanding of Dengue fever. Let’s debunk some of the most common beliefs about this disease:

    Myth 1: Low platelets mean you have dengue

    A low platelet count can be an indication of dengue, however, that is not always the case. Not every dengue patient has a drop in platelets, and not every patient with a low platelet count has dengue.
    Other factors can cause a decrease in platelet count. Platelet counts can drop as a result of other viral infections as part of the body’s immunological response.

    Myth 2: Any mosquito can cause dengue

    Not every mosquito can cause dengue. Dengue is transmitted exclusively by the Aedes Egypti mosquito, which thrives in densely-populated tropical climates and breeds in stagnant pools of water. The mosquitoes pick up the virus from infected humans and pass it along through bites.

    Myth 3: You can get infected only once in a lifetime

    Many individuals assume that once infected with the dengue virus, they cannot be infected again. This is possibly the most damaging fallacy about dengue, as it raises the likelihood of more people falling victim to the disease. While our immune system is capable of combating dengue, it does not develop immunity to the virus.

    Myth 4: Drinking papaya juice can cure dengue

    Dengue fever cannot be cured with papaya leaf extract. According to research, papaya leaf extract may aid in platelet synthesis. However, platelet counts are not the only issue to be concerned about when it comes to dengue, and not every patient will have low platelet counts.

    Myth 5: Dengue is contagious

    No, dengue is not contagious. It does not transmit from person to person. It is only transmitted when an infected Aedes mosquito bites a person, who then develops dengue and symptoms appear 4 to 5 days after being bitten. Infected patients are usually kept in mosquito nets so that they are not bit by more mosquitoes which can then carry the virus and infect others.

  • Sharp rise in Dengue cases in Karachi

    Sharp rise in Dengue cases in Karachi

    Karachi is witnessing a sharp increase in dengue fever cases with 113 new cases of the vector-borne disease reported in the city in the past 24 hours.

    According to officials at government-run hospitals, the number of dengue cases in Karachi has surpassed 3,000 this year. So far in September, 843 people in Karachi have contracted the virus. Approximately 3,428 dengue cases have been registered in the province of Sindh overall. Yesterday, no dengue cases were reported in the districts of Hyderabad and Larkana. It should be noted that a large number of dengue cases have been reported in Karachi’s East area.

    In the past 24 hours, 62 patients were diagnosed with dengue in Lahore, while 55 new cases were reported in Islamabad.

    Dengue fever is one of the world’s leading mosquito-borne illnesses and infects millions across the globe annually.

    Read more- Dengue cases on the rise in Punjab

    Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes Egypti mosquito, which thrives in densely-populated tropical climates and breeds in stagnant pools of water. The mosquitoes picks up the virus from infected humans and pass it along through bites.

    Dengue is potentially fatal, with a severe version of the disease called dengue hemorrhagic fever causing internal bleeding which could lead to death.

  • Dengue cases on the rise in Punjab

    According to a statement issued by the Secretary of Health Punjab, 32 cases of dengue virus have been detected across the province in the last 24 hours.

    At least 70 cases of dengue were reported in Punjab on Sunday.

    According to the Health Department, a total of 1,034 dengue virus cases have been reported in 2022.

    441 cases of dengue were reported in Lahore alone.

    Read more- All you need to know about dengue

    Amid the increase in cases of dengue, the district administration of Rawalpindi has launched a crackdown and sealed 58 buildings for finding dengue larvae and filed cases against 41 people.

    Citizens have been advised to cooperate with the health teams and closely adhere to SOPs in order to avoid contracting the dengue virus.

  • Islamabad records 174 dengue cases in last 24 hours

    Islamabad records 174 dengue cases in last 24 hours

    Islamabad has recorded the highest number of dengue cases since October 15 in the last 24 hours, Dawn News has reported. As per District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem Zia, in the last 24 hours, 174 cases of dengue were reported in Islamabad. It is the highest number of cases since October 15 when 152 cases had emerged.

    The DHO said that a patient admitted in Polyclinic lost his life to dengue on Friday.

    110 cases of dengue have been reported from the rural areas and 64 from the urban areas. The DHO said that 47 patients were admitted in Federal General Hospital, 25 in Pims, 20 in Holy Family Hospital (HFH), three each in Polyclinic and Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), two in Capital Hospital and one in the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. The remaining patients were admitted in private hospitals.

    As per details, 2,603 cases have been reported in Islamabad – 1,589 from rural and 1,014 from the urban areas.

  • Dengue on the rise in Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif urges govt to protect people

    Ninety-two cases of dengue have been reported in Punjab in the last 24 hours, Dawn has reported. Of those 92 cases, 64 cases were reported from Lahore. As per the details, 828 cases of dengue virus have been reported in Punjab, and 687 in Lahore.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif has urged the government to implement dengue control guidelines to protect people.

    “Dengue is spreading & people are getting infected. I would ask the government to implement the dengue control guidelines & protocols that are already in place to mitigate the threat. People’s lives are precious and every measure should be adopted to protect them from dengue,” Shehbaz wrote in a tweet.

    In 2019, more than 8,670 cases of dengue were recorded in Punjab alone with over 50,000 reported from all over Pakistan.