Peshawar   -  Cases of dengue virus have been on the rise in the provincial capital, triggering panic among local residents as well as health authorities.

It merits a mention here that dengue had killed more than 150 people in Tehkal locality of Peshawar three years ago.

An official from the Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar told this correspondent that out of 522 tests performed in the hospital on Wednesday, 94 people tested positive for dengue.

“Currently we have nine patients admitted for treatment, while the others who tested positive left for home treatment,” she added.

Arbab Khizer Hayat, a local political leader of Tehkal locality, told The Nation that nowadays every second house in his locality has one or more dengue patients.

However, he complained that there had been very few measures on the part of the government to contain the disease.

“Authorities are only concerned about corona cases, because they receive funds for it. But dengue is being ignored. Fumigation is not being carried out in all affected areas,” he added.

Khizer Hayat said three years ago, dengue had killed more than 150 people in Tehkal alone.

“Each clinic in our Tehkal Bala and Tehkal Payan localities is receiving 30 to 40 patients on a daily basis. They test themselves and then take medicines to their homes where they continue treatment,” he added.

Reports suggest that areas including Tehkal Bala, Tehkal Payan, Achini, Pishtakhara, Nawe Kalay, Spina Warai, and Abdara have been worst-hit by dengue virus. Similarly, sources in the Health Department said that 19 district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have reported dengue virus cases.

Dr Rafi Uddin Khattak, focal person for dengue and coordinator Lady Health Workers Programme, told The Nation that many cases were not of dengue, but typhoid. “Confirmed cases of dengue may be around 30 to 40 in Peshawar district but the tests of dengue and typhoid are very much similar,” he added.

He said that while hospitals in Peshawar might declare dengue cases in hundreds, the health department would decide finally whether all cases are of dengue or many were of typhoid too.

“Fumigation is being carried out in five affected union councils of Peshawar while indoor sprays are also being done in homes,” he added.

Dr Rafi Uddin also advised people to drain water and to ensure covering the pots containing water in homes.