Soaring numbers: Dengue patients in Pindi surge to 65

The Express Tribune

There has been a 48 per cent increase in the number of dengue patients in the Rawalpindi District as compared to the numbers recorded last year till October.

Data collected by The Express Tribune from the allied hospitals and the District Health Department reveals that till October last year, there were 44 confirmed cases of dengue whereas this year the number of patients has soared to 65.

District Dengue Surveillance Coordinator Dr Ehsan Ghani stated that the majority of cases reported this year are residents of the cantonment area.

“Almost 80 per cent out of the total number of cases reported from Rawalpindi are from the Cantonment area; a part of the city that does not fall under the jurisdiction of the health department,” he elaborated.

He further stated that the majority of the rest of the cases—from places that do fall under the department’s jurisdiction—23 have been reported from Rawal Town.

“Even last year the majority of dengue fever cases were reported from the union council of Rawal Town. Discrepancies in numbers

Though the number of dengue patients has considerably risen, reports from the allied hospitals and health department are contradictory.

According to a consolidated report complied by Holy Family Hospital (HFH) In-charge Infectious Diseases Dr Javed Hayyat, 65 patients have been confirmed for dengue in three public hospitals of the city this year.

In contrast Ghani says 56 cases have so far been confirmed.

In this regard, Hayyat said he has “complied the data of the patients that have been registered in three public hospitals along with three other patients who do not fall under the district”.

Whereas, Dr Ghani asserts that they have been compiling the records and the latest count of patient add up to 56. Another possible case in capital

A patient suspected of having contracted dengue has been admitted to the Polyclinic hospital.

According to Dr Tanveer Malik, emergency in-charge of the hospital, the patient was brought in two days back with high fever, bleeding and acute muscular ache.

“His medical report is due within a day or so,” said Malik, adding that his case would become clear only after the results come in. Currently, one person has been confirmed to have contracted the disease in the capital.