Dengue took 15 lives in Karachi during 2014

KARACHI - Dr Shakeel Aamir Mullick - Provincial Program Manager, Dengue Prevention and Control Program Sindh, revealed that 15 people had died from deadly dengue viral fever in 2014 and all cases were reported in Karachi.

Dr Shakeel Mullick while talking to the media said; 15 people had died from dengue viral fever, since 1st January 2014 and ratio of deaths was lower as compared to 2013. He said 1286 dengue fever cases had been reported at various public and private hospitals of Sindh so far, out of which, 1250 were detected from Karachi, while 36 cases reported from the rest of Sindh.

Replying to a question about anti-dengue prevention & control activities slowing down in Sindh province, Dr Mullick said; The program is properly functioning in all the districts of the province and major public hospitals are coordinating with dengue program management.  Ratio of reporting of cases to public and private hospitals remained low, as compared to last years. He said less number of people have contracted dengue virus in this year.

According to 2013 data available, 5,750 dengue viral fever cases were reported across the Sindh province in 2013. Out of the total 5,750 dengue fever cases reported in 2013, nearly 5,058 were detected in Karachi and only 692 in rest of the Sindh province. 

It was further stated that total 32 dengue fever patients died across the province last year. Out of these 26 cases were in Karachi, three in Hyderabad and one each in Mirpurkhas Thatta and Larkana.