Two persons have died of dengue fever in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while health authorities have confirmed at least 15 more cases of fever. An official of the Health and Emergency Preparedness Response Cell (HEPR) while talking to APP here on Saturday, said that 55 suspected cases have been reported from different districts of the province.
He further said that the health department has set up isolation wards in every district headquarters hospitals and teaching hospital of the province with a view to provide better treatment and diagnostic facilities to the patients suffering from dengue virus.
Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, he said. The major symptoms of the disease are headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands and rash skin. The presence of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue fever.
Health experts have recommended that to prevent mosquito bites, wear long pants and long sleeves and for personal protection, use mosquito repellent sprays. Moreover, they advised people to limit exposure to mosquitoes by avoiding standing water and staying indoors two hours after sunrise and before sunset will help.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Aedes aegypti mosquito is a daytime biter with peak periods of biting around sunrise and sunset. It may bite at any time of the day and is often hidden inside homes or other dwellings, especially in urban areas. There is currently no vaccination available for dengue fever.