The Sindh Health Department has reported 1,724 dengue cases in Sindh this year out of which 1,484 were reported in Karachi.
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Vector-borne and dengue diseases
KARACHI: Hospitals in the port city have admitted scores of patients with colds, fevers, and body aches as the threat of vector-borne diseases, including dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and other viral ailments, rises.
Doctors have said that the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) and Civil Hospital are now admitting at least 50 patients per day.
The official of the Sindh Health Department reported that there were at least 411 cases suspected to be chikungunya in the province, 153 of which were confirmed through tests.
According to the statement, Sindh has recorded at least 1,724 dengue cases this year out of which 1,484 cases were reported in Karachi. The department also mentioned one death caused by dengue fever in Sindh during present year.
The health department also said that over 2,22,239 cases of malaria were registered in Sindh this year while 1,768 in Karachi.
In the same way, incidences of chikungunya have also been reportedly on the rise in the city many patients presenting themselves in hospitals/physician’s office with symptoms of this infection.
However, when asked about the symptoms of viral infections the Agha Khan Hospital family physician Dr Bilal Aheed said that persons suffering high grade fever body achings joint pains, and swelling and redness on the skin.
Many people associated these symptoms with viral fevers like dengue and chikungunya which are contracted from a particular kind of mosquito known as Aedes, said the doctor in response to Geo.tv.
For the record, he noted that these viruses are transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
As told by the family physician these mosquitoes are mainly found in urban centers and the preferred breeding sites include open containers, water puddles, and water tanks.
How to prevent vector-borne, viral diseases?
The doctor shared the following measures to ensure prevention of the aforementioned diseases:
- Avoid accumulation of water where it stagnates around your residences.
- Water containers should preferably be tightly sealed.
- For personal protection use repellents and bed nets.
- Avoid bare skin by wearing full-sleeved clothing since mosquitoes are more likely to bite in the morning and in the evening.
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