ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Health Advisor Punjab Khawaja Salman Rafique Thursday said spread of dengue virus in Punjab would lose its intensity within 15 days owing to decrease in temperature.
Talking to private news channel, Salman said the provincial government had already planned in September for dengue’s outbreak and increase in its number of patient was anticipated.
He said that Rawalpindi has three hospitals with 400 dengue patients out of which 50-60 patients were being discharged daily after treatment.
He said that due to timely measures of provincial government the number of patients was low, otherwise it would have hit the number of 150-200 daily.
To a question, he informed that upon their contact private hospitals had also volunteered 8-10 beds for these patients.
He said that Punjab had 2500 patients affected with the virus since January till now adding dengue patients were not only in Punjab and Sindh but this disease was also reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, respectively.
“We are improvising a national strategy to cope with this virus along with all the provinces,” he added.
To another question, he said that many countries including India, Thailand and Malaysia have been suffering from this virus for last many years while Pakistan had been affected with dengue for last few years.
Replying to another question about its rapid spread in Rawalpindi, he said that the growth of infested mosquitoes was higher in this area otherwise every mosquitoe was not infested.
He said its breeding was always higher in densely populated areas.
He recommended that the patient must consult the relevant doctor and get the proper testing done and avoid self-medication.
To another question, he said that they were continuing their research work on preventive measures.
“We have compiled data in off season that would help us in taking over the disease and prevent its spreading”, he said.
He said that the Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has established an investigative committee chaired by commissioner Gujranwala which would compile its report in 10-15 days which would help assess flaws in preventive measures as well.
Source: APP
