Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
Dengue fever fears keep most people indoors
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/10/22/10076604.html
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/10/22/10076604.html
Lahore: At a time of the year when parks and other open spaces are usually crowded each evening to take advantage of the pleasant October breeze, many have opted to remain at home.
They have been scared away by the striped Aedes mosquito, which carries the potentially fatal dengue virus.
Already, 25 deaths have been reported in Sindh - 22 in Karachi - and hospitals across the city are facing an upsurge in cases.
Stagnant water
The health department has put hospitals on high alert and is now engaged in efforts to drain pools of rain water from cities including Karachi and Hyderabad. It is feared the presence of stagnant water could contribute to a dengue epidemic.
The first dengue cases have also been reported in the Punjab and one death, apparently due to dengue, has taken place in Chakwal.
Many others are said to be suffering symptoms in the area. The issue has now been taken up by the prime minister, but assurances that the situation is under control have done little to calm fears.
"We have seen the pictures and the stories from India. We will not risk going out with our children, because there are lots of mosquitoes in the evenings," Nadira Hameed, 30, a mother of two, said.
Major outbreaks of dengue have not been encountered in Pakistan but health officials seemed to have been taken by surprise. Hospitals have been asked to ensure there is sufficient stock of blood since dengue can cause heavy nose bleeding and loss of blood through broken veins.
They have been scared away by the striped Aedes mosquito, which carries the potentially fatal dengue virus.
Already, 25 deaths have been reported in Sindh - 22 in Karachi - and hospitals across the city are facing an upsurge in cases.
Stagnant water
The health department has put hospitals on high alert and is now engaged in efforts to drain pools of rain water from cities including Karachi and Hyderabad. It is feared the presence of stagnant water could contribute to a dengue epidemic.
The first dengue cases have also been reported in the Punjab and one death, apparently due to dengue, has taken place in Chakwal.
Many others are said to be suffering symptoms in the area. The issue has now been taken up by the prime minister, but assurances that the situation is under control have done little to calm fears.
"We have seen the pictures and the stories from India. We will not risk going out with our children, because there are lots of mosquitoes in the evenings," Nadira Hameed, 30, a mother of two, said.
Major outbreaks of dengue have not been encountered in Pakistan but health officials seemed to have been taken by surprise. Hospitals have been asked to ensure there is sufficient stock of blood since dengue can cause heavy nose bleeding and loss of blood through broken veins.