The blood tests of the two patients, suspected to be infected by Dengue Virus turned out negative, hospital sources told Business Recorder on Thursday. The patients were admitted in Polyclinic and their blood samples were sent to National Institute of Health NIH for tests to confirm presence of the virus.
Whereas, Jannas Khan, who was found positive for Dengue virus is being provided proper treatment and would be discharged within two weeks. Federal Minister for Health Sherry Rehman expressing concern over the prospects of outbreak of the disease, has ordered immediate measures to combat the disease.
"The government is determined to prevent the spread of the disease this year unlike the past," she said. Sherry said that controlling the outbreak of the disease is a challenging task since the global prevalence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries. We are preparing strategy for taking both curative and preventive measures to control the disease, she said adding that the Ministry of Health is launching a media campaign to inform the public about preventive measures.
Sherry informed that the Directorate of Malaria has already launched a host of preventive measures to combat the disease. The Federal Minister also called for community efforts to control the spread of the virus that is transmitted by the mosquito Aedes Aegypti.
Sherry said since the mosquito can survive and breed in domestic settings, each individual will have to play his/her role in preventing the outbreak of the disease. The vector mosquito can be controlled through environmental management and chemical methods, proper solid waste disposal and improved water storage practices, including covering containers to prevent access of mosquitoes, she added.
The Federal Minister said the government is ready to assist communities in implementing vector control measures. Only a joint effort by the government and the communities can ensure that the dengue virus does not turn into an epidemic claiming dozens of lives, as it has in the past, she added.