RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi health authority on Tuesday emphasized the need for precautionary measures as September poses a high risk for the spread of dengue.
The District Coordinator for Epidemics Prevention and Control (DCEPC), Dr. Sajjad Mehmood, said that dengue cases in Rawalpindi have gradually increased over the past week, going from five to six cases per day last week to 15 to 18 cases per day this week. The daily number could increase to 70 patients in September if this trend continues, he cautioned.
He highlighted a pattern from the previous few years, saying that dengue cases often begin to rise around the end of August and continue to rise until October 10.
There were hundreds of dengue cases over the first half of the year. Without appropriate preventive measures, Dr. Sajjad predicted that during the next six months, this number might rise into the thousands.
Although there were fewer than 200 dengue cases documented this year, there is a chance that number might rise to 4,000 in the following months, added the health officer.
A comprehensive dengue control strategy has been put in place by the district health authority, with the goal of completely eliminating dengue larvae through sweeping operations in neighborhoods and homes associated with recorded cases. The Cantonment’s Chamanzar, Dhok Munshi, and Lalazar neighborhoods have been particularly hard hit.
Dengue Cases in Last 24 Hours
Within the last 24 hours, 18 new cases brought Rawalpindi’s total to 176 cases. Dr. Sajjad specified that these cases included six from Potohar town, five from Chaklala Cantonment, one from the Municipal Corporation Rawalpindi area, and six patients from outside the district.
At present, 46 patients are undergoing treatment in Rawalpindi public hospitals, comprising 31 confirmed cases and 130 discharged after treatment.
In previous 245 hours, Dr. Sajjad said the district administration has taken a number of measures to address violations of dengue SOPs. This involved filing 55 FIRs, giving tickets to 11 people, sealing two properties, and levying fines totaling Rs 17,000 in addition to the other actions mentioned.
that the district administration had taken several actions against violations of dengue SOPs within the last 24 hours. This included the registration of 55 FIRs, issuing tickets to 11 individuals, sealing two premises, and imposing a fine of Rs 17,000.
