Like many others, I have been following with great concern the rapid spread of Dengue Fever in Pakistan and across the region.
According to the statistics of National Institute of Health, blood samples of 89 suspected Dengue Fever patients have been received, out of which 39 cases have been diagnosed positive. In Islamabad 21 out of 61 suspected Dengue Fever cases found positive. Thus, the number of Dengue Fever patients in the twin cities is 60…. A report from Lahore says that the management of Sheikh Zaid hospital has been tight-lipped on deaths of two dengue fever patients in the hospital whereas four more patients infected by dengue virus have been detected… According to another report, following Karachi, Sindh interior, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, dengue fever seemed to have entered the NWFP province also, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the death of a child, 7 with all the symptoms of suffering from the dengue fever… The ministry [of Health] said that the dengue in Sindh has taken the toll of 27 lives and 78 dengue patients have been admitted into the different hospitals in Karachi during the last 24 hours, while in the same period 92 patients were discharged from the hospitals in Karachi and Sindh after the recovery from dengue fever.
As with so many health challenges - and more than most because of its nature - Dengue is likely to hit the poorest and already vulnerable populations the most. I just hope that all this reported action at the national, provincial and local levels will bear results and we can minimize, to the extent possible, its spread and damage.
Its a really nasty disease. I hope they take proper quarantine measures. Do you know if there is any immediate treatment for it? Or you just let it ride out and see if it kills you?
There is no vaccine to prevent dengue. Prevention centers on avoiding mosquito bites when traveling to areas where dengue occurs Eliminating mosquito breeding sites in these areas is another key prevention measure.
Avoid mosquito bites when traveling in tropical areas:
Use mosquito repellents on skin and clothing.
When outdoors during times that mosquitoes are biting, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks.
Avoid heavily populated residential areas.
When indoors, stay in air-conditioned or screened areas. Use bednets if sleeping areas are not screened or air-conditioned.
If you have symptoms of dengue, report your travel history to your doctor.
Eliminate mosquito breeding sites in areas where dengue might occur:
Eliminate mosquito breeding sites around homes. Discard items that can collect rain or run-off water, especially old tires.
*]Regularly change the water in outdoor bird baths and pet and animal water containers.
I'm talking about immediate treatment, not preventative measures like vaccines.
I was speaking to my aunt the other day, and she was telling me (although she could very well have it all wrong), that they give you an injection of a medicine as soon as they find out you've got Dengue. And they're testing anyone with a weird fever if they've got Dengue - so the medical instituions are doing their best.
Poor folks - its not a pleasant disease. I just never knew they had it there.
I am planning to go to Pakistan (Karachi and Islamabad) in January to do some wedding preparations, but this Dengue fever outbreak is certainly making me think twice about going. I know that it's a bit cooler in January and as a result, do you think the number of mosquitos will decline? InshAllah they will get this under control soon.
There are 15 suspected and 2 diagnosed cases of Dengue fever in my ward and we're getting new patients everyday. One expired a couple of days ago. There are an estimated 1576 suspected patients of Dengue in Pakistan and 44 deaths have been reported so far.
I was speaking to my aunt the other day, and she was telling me (although she could very well have it all wrong), that they give you an injection of a medicine as soon as they find out you've got Dengue. And they're testing anyone with a weird fever if they've got Dengue - so the medical instituions are doing their best.
Poor folks - its not a pleasant disease. I just never knew they had it there.
We have got a very high degree of suspicion but we're not giving 'that magic injection' to any patient. The truth is, there isn't any ...
An interesting fact that people in Pakistan should know is that Aeges Egypti , the mosquito responsible the spread of this fever bites at sunset and sun rise. So people should use some mosquito repellent at these times.