Fifteen others test positive in Karachi, while Hyderabad and Shikarpur report two and three cases

KARACHI: The peak season for dengue began with news of two more deaths in Karachi. on Monday, Civil hospital reported the loss of two patients after they were admitted for a few days.

Hazoor Bux, 13, came on September 25 with multiple medical problems, including thalassaemia major and hepatitis B. He died on September 29 but his report was delayed due to an investigation into the cause of death, which was confirmed as dengue haemorrhagic fever on Monday.

Twenty-five-year-old Aneeta Kamran was declared a “high risk” patient when she was admitted to Civil hospital on September 29 with symptoms of dengue and a post-partum haemorrhage. She died in the early hours of Sunday.

Doctors said that in both patients it was a matter of comorbidities complicating the case.

Sindh’s death toll now stands at seven, all from Karachi. Another 15 people also tested positive for the virus, while 13 tested positive for ‘low-grade dengue’. three cases from Hyderabad and two from Shikarpur were also reported. the total number of people infected with the virus is now 634 for the year.

Doctors strongly advise fumigating households, inside and around, and applying mosquito repellent.

Published in the Express Tribune, October 4th, 2011.