Dengue on rise in Rawalpindi again

RAWALPINDI: Sixteen more dengue virus cases were in the Rawalpindi district on Sunday, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 261.

According to data provided by the Health Ministry Punjab, different hospitals reported admitting dengue patients. The majority of the patients are under treatment in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, DHQ, and Holy Family Hospital.

Dengue epidemic grips multiple regions of the country after devastating floods wreaked havoc in the majority of the country. Meanwhile, 69 cases have been registered and eight buildings have been sealed over violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) set to curb the dengue virus.

Read more: Surge in dengue cases plagues multiple cities in Punjab

Overall 2225 cases have been registered and 466 buildings have been sealed over dengue SOPs violations. Dengue virus, a mosquito-borne disease, has been spreading rapidly worldwide in recent years. It is primarily transmitted by female mosquitoes, mainly Aedes aegypti, and to a lesser extent, Ae. albopictus.

SYMPTOMS
Dengue should be suspected when a high fever (40°C/104°F) is accompanied by 2 of the following symptoms during the febrile phase: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands and rash.