Karachi: Dengue fever has killed 18 people in Karachi in the past three months, doctors said yesterday.
With more than 120 patients admitted in private and government hospitals of Karachi, the health ministry has appealed to the people to donate blood, which is needed to save the lives of patients suffering from the advanced stage of dengue fever.
An official of the Health Ministry, Dr Abdul Majid, said that during the last 24 hours more than 28 patients suspected of suffering from dengue fever have been admitted to various hospitals of Karachi.
There has been an alarming increase in the number of dengue fever patients in Karachi where most hospitals are ill equipped to handle such cases, doctors said.
Only one private hospital has the laboratory facility to detect dengue virus in a city of more than 14 million people.
Breeding ground
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)-led city government, which is under fire for its failure to ensure an effective drive against mosquitoes, said that it was trying its best to control the situation.
Syed Mustafa Kamal, mayor of Karachi, has said that the city government has started spraying insecticides in various parts of the city to get rid of mosquitoes. The number of mosquitoes has soared in Karachi after the recent heavy monsoon rains.
Doctors say that the stagnant and sewerage water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
