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 the 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 were occurredin the province, twenty of them were only in Karachi, says the reports of provincial dengue surveillance cell. This year also fear of mosquito-borne virus is drawing attention of the scarred masses.
Focal Person Dengue Surveillance Cell, Dr. Shakeel Malik, when contacted, told PPI that the list of dengue cases for this year could not be prepared so far. “I can’t tell the exact number of dengue cases in Karachi or other parts of Sind. The 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 the preventive measures were taken in a pragmatic manner, especially at the people’s end.“Mosquitoes breed in stagnant and foul water, we all knew it very well, and if still we are not ready to take protective actions then nobody can help it”.
The government must also use effective mosquito repellents in their spraying vehicles to make it more purposeful, highlighted Dr. Qaisar.
He advised people to spill a little kerosene oil on stagnant water so that mosquitoes couldn’t breed there. If people still resist taking such moves so they must be ready to face the disease, because nothing is more important than one’s health, he underscored.
“It is incumbent on government to keep their campaigns working regularly in order to aware people of their responsibilities. We see foul-standing water on various places and water drops pouring down fromair-conditioners that ultimately give birth to the mosquitoes, therefore we are to stop it,” he said.
He also lamented mosquito coil makers for making the most of viral disease in earning profit, saying they should resist in fleecing people by making substandard mosquito repellents and coils that doesn’tyield any productive results.
“People and official authorities must cooperate with each other for producing coveted results and warding off this dreaded disease”, he urged. PPI
