Pakistan: Over 49,000 cases registered in dengue outbreak, 79 dead

Over 49,000 cases of dengue have been registered in Pakistan, setting a new record in the country this year. According to the reports, the steep increase in the number of cases related to the mosquito-borne disease came to light in the last 15 days and approximately 79 people have lost their lives till now.

Surge in dengue cases

The concerned authorities stated that it was due to an improved mechanism that so many of the cases were recorded. A representative of the NHS (National Health Services), Sajid Shah, stated that the increase in the number of dengue cases has not only been confined to Pakistan but has been reported in different parts of the world.

According to reports, out of a total of 49,587 cases that were reported, 13,173 cases were reported from Islamabad, 9,885 from Punjab, 13,251 from Sindh, 3,217 cases from Balochistan and 7,776 cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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However, no deaths were reported from Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa whereas 22 people lost their lives in the capital city. It was reported that 33 people died in Sindh, 20 in Punjab and three in Balochistan.

Dengue among top 10 public health threats

According to reports, Sajid Shah stated that the World Health Organisation had included dengue in the top 10 health threats to the world. Shah further added that 3,71,717 cases and 1,407 deaths had been reported in the Philippines. Similarly, 2,34,078 cases and over 100 deaths were recorded in Sri Lanka. 1,46,000 cases and 89 deaths were reported in Thailand and 1,24,752 cases, 15 casualties in Vietnam.

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Shah also said that it was for the first time in Pakistan that an emergency operation center had been activated at the National Institute of Health. He further added that a comprehensive plan will be formulated while keeping the affected provinces in the loop and will defeat the infection in the next few years.

Pakistan has been no stranger to dengue outbreaks with the first one taking place in the year 1994. In 2005 over 6,000 people in Karachi were said to be affected and 62 people lost their lives while in 2011 more than 21,000 cases were recorded in Lahore with 350 deaths. According to reports, more than 48,000 cases were recorded between the period 2011-2014.

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(With inputs from agencies)