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PAKISTAN: Dengue fever threat in Karachi?
01 Jul 2008 13:21:50 GMT
 Source: IRIN
KARACHI, 1 July 2008 (IRIN) - After a lull of six months, dengue fever has re-emerged, with the death of a 35-year-old man in Karachi. This is believed to be the first dengue fever death in Pakistan in 2008.

The assistant medical superintendent of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Syed Javed Akhtar, said the patient had "tested positive for dengue fever".

In 2007, at least 22 dengue deaths were reported in the country, most of them in the southern province of Sindh. Some, 2,600 people were reported to have been infected with the virus.

Dengue fever, which can sometimes take the form of the more severe dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), is a viral disease borne by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The re-emergence of the disease suggests a new threat of a dengue fever outbreak may hang over Karachi. The virus traditionally poses an increased risk after the monsoon rains in July and August, when pools of water gather in many locations.

"We have complained about this many times, but nothing is done," Kareem Ahmed, 35, a resident of Nazimabad in Karachi, told IRIN. "Even though dengue is now a very real threat, no one does anything to prevent it," he said.

Spraying

The mayor of Karachi, Mustafa Kamal, said: "Spraying against mosquitoes was carried out earlier this year, during the breeding season".

As yet, no one knows whether those measures will prove sufficient to mitigate the risk. The disease has posed an increased threat over the past two years, with virus-bearing mosquitoes present in ever larger numbers, according to hospitals in Karachi and other cities who receive cases whenever the disease strikes.

"Dengue is a vector-borne disease and the threat from it exists wherever there is a mosquito population," said Saira Waqar, a Karachi-based physician. "Dengue can be treated, especially if people know what symptoms to watch out for and seek medical aid," she said.

Though awareness regarding the disease has increased, with public health campaigns run by the government, there is still a great deal of ignorance.

"My nephew got high fever and a doctor told us it was dengue fever. We then went to a 'pir' (spiritual healer) and he was able to cure the child," said Raheema Bibi, 40, a Karachi resident. Doctors like Saira Waqr believe "the family was lucky in this case." Others die due to the lack of timely medical attention.

The first dengue fever death in Karachi has heightened fears the disease may strike again. The best preventive measures are the use of mosquito nets and repellent, but more needs to be done to raise awareness.

kh/at/cb

© IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis: http://www.IRINnews.org


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