As many as 10,831 new cases of tuberculosis were reported at state-run healthcare facilities in 35 districts across the country during February 2011 of which 86 percent cases were counted in Punjab, which is a matter of concern for the government.
The number of confirmed cases of TB reported in February 2011 is double than the 4,910 cases of the disease reported a month earlier in 37 districts. Prevalence of the disease appears to be strong in the Punjab region, as the districts of Gujranwala reported 2,837 cases in February 2011, Kasur 1,985 and Vehari 1,289. These districts also accounted for highest number in the preceding month.
FAFEN Monitors collected the data of disease cases from health offices in 64 districts for February 2011 issued here on Friday. Incidence of malaria decreased in February, as compared to the preceding month, but it continued to be the most-recorded disease. Malaria constituted 92 percent of the total 80,367 reported cases of viral diseases in February 2011.
This means that overall cases of viral diseases can be significantly reduced if malaria is controlled. Although a reprieve can be expected due to the extreme heat of the coming summer months in many parts of the country, preventive measures such as mosquito nets, repellents, and insecticides should still be used to keep it at bay.
Malaria was the most notable in February 2011 in Sindh, where 13 districts reported 57 percent of all malaria cases recorded nation-wide. Another mosquito-borne disease, dengue, has resurfaced in February. While no cases of dengue were reported in December 2010 or January 2011, two cases were reported in the EDO health office in Ghotki district in Sindh.
The number of reported cases of probable poliomyelitis has also jumped from the previous month. The disease has been reported in monitored districts of Punjab for the first time since November 2010. A total of 47 cases of probable poliomyelitis were reported in three districts- Two in Punjab and one in Sindh.
Health authorities in Khushab districts of Punjab recorded 37 cases of probable poliomyelitis, while DG Khan District of same province reported eight cases during February. Two more cases were reported in Umerkot district in Sindh, which had also reported five cases in January 2011. From November 2010 to January 2011, all reported cases of probable poliomyelitis were documented in health offices in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and no cases were reported in Punjab.
The most commonly observed diseases in the country were also those whose transmission is aided by particular conditions of environment and hygiene, such as TB and malaria. In line with trends observed in previous months, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) were the most reported set of diseases in 60 districts, making 63 percent of all reported cases of disease.
Diarrhea and dysentery taken together was ranked second among most commonly reported disease, which makes 12 percent of all reported diseases. Eleven percent of all reported diseases in 60 districts were cases of scabies, which was third in terms of frequency. Malaria and gastro-enteritis were ranked fourth and fifth, the cases of which made 5 percent and 4 percent of all the reported disease cases.
All but two of the top ten districts reporting diseases in highest numbers were in Punjab. Sialkot was the most disease affected district in February 2011 reporting 8,3531 cases of disease. Sialkot disease cases accounted for 6 percent of the total cases of diseases that were reported in 64 districts nation-wide. Kasur and Gujranwala districts followed with 5.5 percent each of all reported cases of disease.
Rahimyar Khan reported 5.2 percent of all diseases, while Swat district of KP was the fifth most disease affected with 5 percent of all cases of diseases reported in the health office. Lahore and Bahawalnagar districts of Punjab reported 4.7 percent each of total cases of diseases, Vehari reported 4.4 percent, Mirpukhas in Sindh reported 4.3 percent and Muzaffargarh reported 3.9 percent of all diseases in February 2011.
The health office officials of 62 districts, FR Peshawar and ICT shared information with FAFEN Monitors. Executive District Officer (EDO)/Health offices in 24 districts of Punjab, 18 districts of KP, 13 districts of Sindh and seven districts of Balochistan, as well as the office of the Agency Surgeon Health (ASH) in FR Peshawar, and that of the Health Management Information System (HMIS) in ICT shared the requested information with FAFEN Monitors.
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