Dengue on rampage in Punjab, Chinese among 2000 victims

Pakistan

Dengue on rampage in Punjab, Chinese among 2000 victims

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Dengue virus is going berserk in Punjab with government scrambling to control epidemic.

08 September,2011 07:44 pm

CM Shahbaz Sharif Thursday directed the authorities concerned to purchase medicines and machines on an emergency basis for elimination of dengue virus.A Chinese national, working in Punjab Department of Information Technology, has also become victim of the virus. He had been admitted to Jinnah Hospital where doctors declared him to be in critical state with platelets count below 9000.The CM chaired a special emergency committee formed for the extermination of dengue virus. Shahbaz said anti-dengue drive was in progress on war footings, vowing to meet the challenge with cooperation from the people and experts.He directed the Health Secretary to himself inspect facilities at hospitals.Meantime, the Punjab Health Department recommended special measures to stem the growth of mosquitoes in educational institutions and posh areas.At least 142 new dengue cases have been registered during the last 24 hours.According to official statistics, 1772 cases have been registered in Lahore while 132 new cases have been registered in government and private hospitals of the city. Independent statstics put the toll of dengue patients in Ounjab at over 2000.During last 24 hours, 8 dengue cases were reported from Faisalabad while one case each was registered in Multan and Bahawalpur.Also, five patients admitted at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital were tested positive.Another patient was confirmed as dengue infected at District Hospital of Bahawalnagar.According to Dengue Surveillance Cell in Karachi, at least 12 dengue patients were under treatment in different hospitals of the city.Meanwhile, two dengue cases were registered in Noushehro Feroz while one patient was reported from Hyderabad.