ISLAMABAD: After infecting over 5,000 residents of the capital during the current season, not a single case of the dengue virus was reported in the federal capital during the last 24 hours.

According to a document of the District Health Office, available with Dawn, during the current season 5,401 cases of dengue have been reported from Islamabad. Moreover, 11 persons succumbed to the disease. Out of the total number of cases in the city, 3,152 cases were reported from rural areas and 2,249 cases were reported from urban areas of Islamabad.

Data further showed that 2,393 cases were reported by private laboratories and 1,411 cases were reported by Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). The remaining cases were reported by 10 other health facilities.

As far as deaths of the current season were concerned, two persons each died in Union Councils (UCs) Sohan, Rawat, Tarlai and one death each was reported from UCs Koral and Kurri. Out of the three deaths in urban areas, one each was reported from F-7, I-8 and G-15.

It is worth mentioning that mosquitoes cannot survive during low temperature and it is believed that at around 10 °C, mosquitoes become torpid and are unable to move.

The dengue virus is spread by the aedes aegypti mosquito. The most common symptoms of dengue are high-grade fever accompanied by joint and muscular aches.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for dengue but early detection and proper medical care can lower mortality. Otherwise, the disease may turn into a life-threatening haemorrhagic fever, which may lead to internal bleeding and dangerously low blood pressure. Rapid and unplanned urbanisation, lack of sanitation and climate change are all contributing towards a surge in dengue infections. Staff Reporter