KARACHI: The cases of "break bone" fever, commonly known as dengue fever are again surfacing in Karachi, scaring the citizens, while the authorities are totally clueless about how to fight the virus effectively and make Karachi a dengue-free city for good.
After a short recess of winter months, cases of dengue fever are again being reported at the city hospitals.
More than thirty people with dengue symptoms have been rushed to various metropolitan hospitals this year, hospital sources said.
The emergence of dengue-related cases after sporadic intervals raises doubt on the initiatives taken by the government in rooting out the disease.
Last year, twenty five dengue deaths occurred in the province. Twenty of them were only in Karachi, says a report of the provincial Dengue Surveillance Cell.
This year also fear of the mosquito-borne virus is drawing attention of the scared masses.
Dr. Shakeel Malik of the Dengue Surveillance Cell, told PPI that the list of dengue cases for this year has not be prepared so far.
“I can’t tell the exact number of dengue cases in Karachi or other parts of Sind. The number of cases will be clear as soon as a proper list is prepared,” he said.
Health experts, in general, blame the masses for being so lethargic in taking precautionary steps at their end.
Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) leader Dr. Qaisar Sajjad said the viral disease would never meet its end until preventive measures were taken in a pragmatic manner, especially by the people.
“Mosquitoes breed in stagnant and foul water, we all know it very well, and if we are still not ready to take protective action then nobody can help it," he warned.
The government must also use effective mosquito repellents spraying their vehicles also, highlighted Dr. Qaisar.
He advised the people to spill a little kerosene oil on stagnant water so that mosquitoes would not be able to breed there. If people still do not taking such preventive measures then they must be ready to face the disease, because nothing is more important than health, he underscored.
“It is incumbent on the government to keep their campaigns working regularly in order to make people aware of their responsibilities. We see foul-standing water in various places and drops pouring down from air-conditioners that ultimately give birth to mosquitoes, therefore it is us who should stop it,” he said.
He also lamented that mosquito coil makers were making sub-standard mosquito repellents and coils that do not work, and added that the repellent manufacturers should stop fleecing people.
“People and official authorities must cooperate with each other to ward off this disease,” he urged.
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