With the floods in Pakistan
that affected nearly 21 million people, the population is faced with another
epidemic Dengue Fever. In the past few weeks it has emerged as a life
threatening disease for the poor of Pakistan.
The first case of dengue was reported on October 4 and up till now nearly 32
people have died. More than 4000 cases have been reported in Sindh and Punjab (
more than 1500 in Punjab) and is spreading in other provinces as well. Two cases
have already been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dengue virus spreads via humans when a mosquito that has already bitten a dengue
patient bites another person. The virus carrying mosquito bites at Dawn and Dusk
and especially indoors and in shadowy areas. The symptoms of dengue fever range
from mild fever to incapacitating high fever with severe headache, pain behind
the eyes and muscles. In severe cases, bleeding from the pores also takes place
and ultimately leading to death. Among adults and children, it takes 3-14 days
to diagnose this disease.
In Pakistan, the dengue fever is rapidly spreading for many reasons. The recent
floods and standing flood water, weather (that is neither so hot nor so cold),
negligence from government to take efficient preventive measures to aware
people, and use of low quality pesticides to kill dengue mosquitoes are the main
causes Although, after a significant number of cases were reported, the
government and Media has finally started the awareness campaign and government
health departments have also started spraying pesticides to kill the dengue
virus mosquitoes. But some researchers and specialists urge the government to
replace the outdated method of pesticide with modern techniques such as
Bio-eradication that is also adopted in Srilanka, Malaysia and East-Asian
countries. By adopting bio eradication method, the specialists believe the
dengue virus can be eradicated completely, but with pesticides, there still
remains a 40% chance of survival of dengue- mosquitoes.
One of the challenges in treating dengue patients is shortage of platelet kits
in the market. Some shopkeepers are also allegedly selling the platelet kits on
double the price. The government also lacks sufficient quantity of pesticides to
overcome the dengue virus. Also with flood water still in some areas, and lack
of access to pure drinking water, a poor man is forced to drink contaminated
water and is more vulnerable to dengue fever. This can give rise to more cases
of dengue fever in coming days.
Even though, the patients continue to increase everyday particularly in slums of
Sindh and in Eastern Punjab, but the health departments and local governments
are confident that with spraying pesticides, and as the weather gets colder, the
dengue fever would be contained to a great extent.