MINGORA, Aug 29: The Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital feared higher dengue incidence in Swat district after the people thronged it for dengue screening test on Thursday.

According to Dr Wasil Khan, the in charge of the hospital`s medical ward, the people are sensitive about dengue fever and the members of the hospital staff are attending to more than 300 to 400 people daily coming in for dengue screening tests.He said dengue patients might outnumber those admitted tothe hospital and that 559 dengue cases were admitted to the premises.

In charge of the dengue control room at the hospital Dr Shah Dawran said they were collecting data on regular basis and that majority of the patients were asked for treatment at home due to stable condition.

He said currently, there were 149 patients, including 35 women, admitted to the hospital and that the number might go up in the next couple of days.

Deputy commissioner Syed Imtiaz Hussain said 473 patients had been dischargedfrom the hospital since the disease`s emergence in the district, while 44 patients were discharged on Wednesday after completion of treatment.

TWO DROWN: Two people drowned on Thursday in theRiver Swat in Imam Deheeri area of Kabal tehsil here.

Police said Usman, 14, and Sheraz, 16, both residents of Deheeri area, drowned when they were bathing in the river.

They said divers fished out the bodies from the river.