Population may face severe dengue fever outbreak in future

Rawalpindi :The on-going dengue fever outbreak particularly the pattern of spread of infection this year in this region of the country convinced a number of health experts to believe that the population may face more severe dengue fever outbreak in future if necessary preventive measures are not taken by the concerned authorities well in time next year.Experts say that the best way to avoid a severe outbreak in future is in-time proper preventive measures including larvae identification and elimination campaigns along with launching of effective awareness campaigns on permanent basis and provision of mosquito repellents free of cost to public at least in high-risk areas and districts.It is important that before 2006, dengue fever did not pose serious threat to public health though there had been dengue fever outbreaks but limited in nature and in limited regions. After 2006, the infection emerged out as a greater health threat claiming number of lives every year and now the situation has changed as dengue virus has spread almost all over Pakistan due to increased number of infected people among population.With well over 51000 confirmed cases of dengue fever along with at least 84 deaths so far caused by the infection in 2019, the situation may take an alarming turn in the year to come if proper preventive and control measures are not taken by the concerned authorities in general and individuals in particular.The severity of dengue fever outbreak in the region can be gauged by the fact that the three allied hospitals in town received over 87000 patients at dengue outpatient departments from August 14 to date while 14800 patients were admitted at the three hospitals for management. A total of 11961 patients were tested positive for the infection that has claimed 41 lives so far at the allied hospitals.The recent dengue fever outbreak is the most severe in nature in the history of Pakistan and many health experts say that to avoid further loss of lives and huge burden of dengue fever patients in future, the federal and the provincial governments should launch effective awareness campaigns by using simple modes of communication including pictorial material on permanent basis through billboards and not through hanging banners that are vanished away after a month or so.It is also believed that the outbreak in future cannot be averted only through awareness campaign instead the government authorities should have to provide mosquito repellents and insecticides free of cost to public at least in high-risk areas and districts.The dengue fever outbreak has proved to be much deadly this year and according to health experts, the government should motivate individuals to join hands with the health departments in averting possibly a more deadly dengue fever outbreak in future. It is possible by enabling individuals to do so by providing repellents and insecticides at community level.Dengue fever is caused by the bite of an infected female mosquito ‘aedes aegypti’ and elimination of its larvae and adult population is much important to avoid outbreak of the infection.

from The News International - Islamabad https://ift.tt/2Ds2hhG