Pakistan floods: Dengue cases soaring after record monsoon
Pakistani health officials are warning of a looming health crisis in the country after devastating recent floods.
Thirty-three million people have been affected by the flooding, which has left nearly 1,500 dead since the middle of June.
As rescue and evacuation efforts continue in parts of the country, health experts are reporting a surge in dengue, malaria and severe gastric infections.
Many displaced people are living near stagnant water. Dengue fever is already claiming lives and cases are increasing by the day.
About 3,830 cases of dengue fever have been reported by health officials in southern Sindh province, with at least nine deaths, but there are concerns this may be a conservative estimate.
“Overall the situation in Sindh is very bad, we are organising medical camps all over the province. Most of the cases we are seeing now are of dengue patients followed closely by malaria,” Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, secretary general of the Pakistan Medical Association said.
“The dengue burden is the same all over the province and it’s increasing daily. When we checked with the laboratories, the suspected cases are around 80% of tests being done.”
Dr Shoro, who has been treating scores of dengue patients at Agha Khan hospital in Karachi, fears the situation is only going to worsen in the coming weeks.
Agencies