At least 82 patients of a yet un-diagnosed disease were admitted at hospitals in Karachi on Tuesday as the mystery health disorder has reached to epidemic proportions in the city’s Malir area.
The heallth department and experts have failed to diagnose the disease yet, which is being termed by some as Chikungunya, due to the symptoms in patients.
The blood samples taken from the patients have been sent to laboratories in Islamabad for identification of the disease which has infected several persons in Saudabad, Landhi, Gadap and other areas of district Malir.
Medical experts said that this disease causes high fever in the beginning and severe pain in the joints, disabling them for three days.
They revealed that the disease spreads with mosquito bite so all measures should be taken to keep safe from mosquitoes.
Staffers of malaria control program have also carried out anti-mosquito spray in the hospital that created difficulty in breathing for the victims.
Earlier, Sindh Health Minister Dr. Sikandar Mandhro had visited Saudabad hospital and declared emergency in Malir after outbreak of mysterious disease.
According to details, the patients stated that they need to buy medicines and syringes from medical stores due to inadequate facilities in the hospital.
Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services and World Health Organisation (WHO) in a statement on Monday said no case of Chikungunya Virus has yet been confirmed in Karachi and any information circulated in this regard is incorrect and misleading.
A joint statement issued by Ministry and WHO says there have been unconfirmed reports of the presence of Chikungunya virus in Karachi, especially in the areas of Malir but no case of Chikungunya Virus has yet been confirmed till date and any information circulated with regard to confirmation of any case is incorrect and misleading.
Although there is serological evidence of a historical presence of the virus in Pakistan, there is at this time no evidence of any nested transmission of Chikungunya in the country
Imported cases can always appear as for any disease, but such importation, once early detected, would not cause any significant damage to public health.
The Chikungunya virus pertains to the same family of viruses (these-called “arboviruses”) family, as dengue, but is known among the three for causing the least harm to health 4) Being transmitted by the same mosquito (Aedes Aegypti) as Dengue, the measures that are already in place for controlling dengue are identical to the ones that would be needed to control any surge of Chikungunya transmission.
Epidemiological investigation supported by laboratory confirmations being under taken by the health authorities Equally critical, is to remind that an External Evaluation Mission of Experts mandated by the WHO Regional Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean Region has concluded, in a recently released Report, that Pakistan both at federal and provincial levels is well prepared to respond to any epidemic event.
Chikungunya virus is transmitted to people by mosquitoes. The most common symptoms of chikungunya virus infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.
