Dengue Emergency Declared in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi, a city in Pakistan, is facing a severe dengue outbreak. In the last 24 hours, 93 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 3,461 cases this year. The health department confirmed 11 deaths due to dengue. On Friday, 96 new cases were recorded, raising the total to 3,368. The outbreak is linked to dengue larvae found in various locations, leading to 1,716 buildings being sealed and fines of PKR 19.85 million imposed.
The Deputy Commissioner has declared a dengue emergency, noting a more dangerous strain of the virus. Hospitals have set up emergency dengue counters, and mobile teams are working to control the mosquito population. Dengue is spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, the situation is worsened by inadequate sanitation and healthcare. Imtiaz Ahmed, a physician in Chilas, reported over a hundred cases in his hospital in just a few weeks, highlighting the rapid spread in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Doubts Revealed
Dengue -: Dengue is a disease caused by a virus that is spread by mosquitoes. It can make people very sick with high fever, severe headache, and pain behind the eyes. In some cases, it can be very dangerous and even lead to death.
Rawalpindi -: Rawalpindi is a city in Pakistan, which is a country located to the northwest of India. It is close to the capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad.
Dengue larvae -: Dengue larvae are the early stage of mosquitoes that spread the dengue virus. They live in water and grow into adult mosquitoes that can bite people and spread the disease.
Emergency counters -: Emergency counters are special areas set up in hospitals to quickly help people who are very sick. In this case, they are for people who might have dengue, so they can get treatment fast.
Gilgit-Baltistan -: Gilgit-Baltistan is a region in the northern part of Pakistan. It is known for its beautiful mountains but is facing problems with healthcare and sanitation, which means keeping places clean and healthy.