ISLAMABAD - More than one hundred cases of dengue were confirmed and five deaths were reported in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) in the last 24 hours in the capital on Friday.
According to the dengue report released by the District Health Officer (DHO), 117 dengue cases were reported in ICT taking the toll in the capital to 932.
The dengue report available with The Nation said that majority of the cases reported were from rural areas of ICT. Details said that 80 dengue patients were reported from rural areas and 37 from urban sites.
Similarly, four deaths were confirmed from rural areas out of total five deaths reported in the city due to dengue.
The dengue report of the ICT also said that 53 patients are admitted in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, 48 in Federal Government Services Polyclinic hospital, seven in Capital Hospital, 40 in Shifa International Hospital, eight in Quaid-i-Azam International hospital, 102 in Federal General Hospital, three in Maroof Hospital and five in Kulsoom International Hospital so far.
The report also said that 556 cases have been responded to by the health authorities including 53 in the previous 24 hours. In addition, 4973 fogging activities took place overall while 317 were taken in the previous 24 hours.
DHO Zaeem Zia said that heavy fogging was in process at Ghauri Town. We are mapping the hotspots and teams are responding with surveillance, IRS and fogging as per the hotspots identified by the IT teams of the Health Department.
PIMS Media Coordinator Dr. Waseem Khawaja said that the number of dengue patients is increasing and the hospital is facing difficulties in managing both dengue and COVID-19 patients.
He said that the hospital had allocated majority of its beds for COVID-19 patients and now the influx of dengue has further increased the burden.
He said that the administration should carry out aggressive fogging activity in less developed areas particularly in rural population areas to control dengue. “It’s the best prevention to contain dengue instead of landing patients into hospitals already filled with COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Waseem.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Health Services in a statement released said that a meeting to review the situation of the dengue outbreak and response was held here which was chaired by the Additional Secretary.
It was noted that 86 cases were reported in Islamabad in the last 24 hours.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad apprised the participants that the District Administration is actively monitoring the prevention activities throughout Islamabad.
He said that most of the cases are being reported in Alipur, Tarlai, Ghouri Town, Tarnol, Koral and I-10. He added that our teams are engaged in case response by ensuring indoor residual spraying and fumigation in affected areas.
It was also decided that an additional 1,000 staff members will be added to the field staff for a more effective response. This new staff shall be trained on an emergency basis to conduct preventive activities. Moreover, public service messages shall be launched through cable networks for raising awareness on how to prevent the spread of dengue.
It was apprised that ELISA testing facility is now available in PIMS and Polyclinic for conducting free of cost dengue tests for the public.
All the public sector hospitals have ensured that sufficient beds have also been allocated for treatment of dengue patients. Additional Secretary directed all stakeholders to ensure best possible free of cost services to dengue patients reported in Islamabad.