2011 dengue outbreak in Pakistan
{{Short description|Nationalist fever in Pakistan}}
{{Infobox disease outbreak
| name = 2011 Dengue Outbreak in Pakistan
| image =
| caption =
| disease = Dengue fever
| location = Punjab, Pakistan
| first case =
| index case =
| confirmed_cases = 14,000+
| suspected cases =
| deaths = 300+
| territories =
| origin =
| date = 2011
| source =
| website =
}}
Dengue fever is an important infectious disease in Pakistan with increasingly frequent epidemics.[http://medicalopedia.org/2581/why-pakistan-is-having-the-dengue-epidemic-every-summer/ "Why Pakistan Is Having The Dengue Epidemic Every Summer?"] Medicalopedia 19 March 2012. Accessed 19 March 2012. Despite the efforts of the Government of Pakistan, especially in Punjab, the high cost of prevention has limited the ability of Pakistan to control epidemics.[https://www.nation.com.pk/11-Sep-2011/cm-takes-stock-of-private-hospitals "Dengue and Government of Pakistan."] The Nation. 11 September 2011. Accessed 11 September 2011. In Pakistan, in the summer of 2011, more than 300 people died of Dengue fever. The prevalence of the disease was over 14,000. The outbreaks occurred mostly in the Lahore area, Punjab, Pakistan.
2011 epidemic
=Morbidity and mortality=
In November 2010, more than 21,204 people were diagnosed with dengue fever.{{Cite web |last= |date=2010-11-04 |title=Dengue death toll rises to 31; over 5,000 infected |url=https://www.dawn.com/2010/11/04/dengue-death-toll-rises-to-31-over-5000-infected/ |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} Those infected were mainly from Punjab, Pakistan. Patients were admitted to dedicated wards in government hospitals. The severity of the epidemic was greatest in Lahore.[http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=23989 "Vicious dengue continues taking lives."] The News.com Accessed 12 May 2013.
The secretary of the Punjab Mineral Development Corporation, Ataullah Siddiqui and Ghiasuddin, a member of the Punjab Public Service Commission died as a result of the dengue fever.[https://archive.today/20130416113155/http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=9000&Cat=13&dt=9/25/2011 Deadliest day in Lahore as 15 more die of dengue] September 25, 2011. The News.com[http://thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=22557&title=Sec-Mineral-Development-dies-of-dengue "Secretary Died."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912124103/http://thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=22557&title=Sec-Mineral-Development-dies-of-dengue |date=2011-09-12 }} The News.com Accessed 12 September 2011.[http://www.dunyanews.tv/ "Secretary Mineral Punjab Died."] Dunya News.tv Accessed 12 September 2011. On 30 September 2011, the Punjab MPA Mumtaz Jajja also died of dengue fever.[http://tribune.com.pk/story/263382/dengue-claims-life-of-pml-n-mpa/ "Five more, including PML-N MPA, die in Lahore."] Ali Usman, tribune.com.pk, 30 September 2011 accessed 16 February 2020 Eight Chinese engineers were taken ill.[http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=22690&title=No-end-to-Dengue-fever-in-Punjab "No end to Dengue fever in Punjab."] Accessed 12 May 2013. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915191334/http://thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=22690&title=No-end-to-Dengue-fever-in-Punjab |date=15 September 2011 }}[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2010/11/03/city/lahore/unbiased-dengue-bites-chinese-workers-as-well/ "Unbiased dengue bites Chinese workers as well."] Pakistan today.com 15 December 2011. Accessed 12 May 2013.
=Government response=
A special tribunal for Dengue fever was empanelled. The chairman of the Dengue Emergency Response Committee was Khawaja Saad Rafique. The Government of Pakistan and the provincial Government of Punjab (Pakistan) took preventive measures to reduce the spread of the disease. A hotline called the "Punjab Health Line Project For Dengue" was opened to facilitate knowledge of the signs and symptoms of dengue fever, provide help people affected and identify areas where the epidemic may have spread. Teams of workers fumigated areas, particularly educational institutions and rural areas where the Aedes mosquito was present.
In early September 2011, the Government of Punjab (Pakistan) ordered the schools, colleges and universities in Punjab, Pakistan to close for 10 days for intensive fogging to eliminate the vector mosquitoes.[http://vuhelp.net/news-update/12426-all-lahore-universities-will-remain-closed-dengue-10-days-14-september-2011-a.html "Universities Closed for 10 days."] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120717152849/http://vuhelp.net/news-update/12426-all-lahore-universities-will-remain-closed-dengue-10-days-14-september-2011-a.html |date=2012-07-17 }} Vuhelp.net 14 September 2011.[http://tribune.com.pk/story/251381/dengue-alert-punjab-govt-closes-schools-for-10-days "Dengue alert: Punjab govt closes schools for 10 days."] Express Tribune.com 13 September 2011 Accessed 12 May 2013.[http://ilm.com.pk/education-news/news/all-punjab-institute-closed-till-25-sep-due-to-dengue-fever/ "Educational Institutions Closed."] 14 September 2011 ILM.com.pk Accessed 14 September 2011.[http://benignblog.com/2011/09/epidemic-hits-lahore-pakistan.html Epidemic Hits Pakistan: Thousands Suffering From Dengue Fever- Vector Mosquitoes Identification] 21 September 2011 benignblog.com Accessed 16 February 2020 Article 144 was implemented in Lahore city for the prevention of dengue fever. After an appeal by the Government of Punjab (Pakistan), private hospitals agreed to provide free treatment to dengue patients.[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/09/11/city/lahore/private-hospitals-to-treat-dengue-patients-free-of-cost/ "Private hospitals to treat dengue patients free of cost."] Pakistan today.com Accessed 12 May 2013. During dengue fever epidemics, the Pakistan army created camps in Lahore city. The Pakistan Air Force has also assisted the government.[http://tribune.com.pk/story/250366/emergency-measures-army-joins-dengue-fight-on-sharifs-request/ "Reaction of Pakistan Armed Forces."] Express Tribune. Accessed 12 September 2011.[http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=67253&Cat=5 "Reactions by Pakistan Army."] The News.com Accessed 12 September 2011. The Punjab government worked to increase public awareness.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahmC-MepNww "Dengue Seminar."] Waqt News. you Tube. Accessed 11 September 2011. Local authorities in Hyderabad held a seminar.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbZb1siBrQ4 "Hyderabad Seminar."] Geo News. You Tube. Accessed 11 September 2011. Other programs were held in educational facilities. A 24-hour government sponsored online service, the "Punjab Health Line Project For Dengue" provided information about the disease and its prevention.{{cite journal | last1=Tahir | first1=Uruj | last2=Khan | first2=Umair Hassan | last3=Zubair | first3=Muhammad Saad | title=Wolbachia pipientis : A potential candidate for combating and eradicating dengue epidemics in Pakistan | journal=Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine | publisher=Medknow | volume=8 | issue=12 | year=2015 | issn=1995-7645 | doi=10.1016/j.apjtm.2015.11.012 | pages=989–998| doi-access=free | pmid=26706669 }}
=International response=
In 2011, the Government of Sri Lanka gave medicines and staff to Punjab.[http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/11/cm-secures-sri-lankas-support.html "Sril Lanka's Help."] Dawn News.com Accessed 12 September 2011[http://e.jang.com.pk/09-11-2011/Lahore/pic.asp?picname=193.gif "Sri Lankan Government Comes in Action."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402070654/http://e.jang.com.pk/09-11-2011/Lahore/pic.asp?picname=193.gif |date=2012-04-02 }} Daily Jhang.com 11 September 2011. Accessed 12 September 2011. A group of 12 doctors from Sri Lanka came to Lahore to assist.[http://asiancorrespondent.com/65008/sri-lanka-comes-to-rescue-pakistan-from-dengue-virus/ "Sri Lankan Doctors Come to Lahore."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225101035/http://asiancorrespondent.com/65008/sri-lanka-comes-to-rescue-pakistan-from-dengue-virus/ |date=2011-12-25 }} Asian Correspondent.com Accessed 15 September 2011.[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/09/sri-lankan-doctors-to-assist-govt-in-dengue-control/ "Sri Lankan doctors to assist government in dengue control."] Pakistan Today.com 15 September 2011 Accessed 15 September 2011.[http://dawn.com/2011/09/12/pakistan-opt-against-drs-use-in-sri-lanka-and-england-test-series/ "Pakistan opt against DRS use in Sri Lanka and England Tests."] Dawn.com 12 September 2011Accessed 12 May 2013. The Indonesian government dispatched a medical team of twenty to assist the Pakistani authorities.[http://dawn.com/2011/10/02/seven-more-succumb-to-dengue-in-city/ "Seven more succumb to dengue in city."] Dawn.com Accessed 12 May 2013. The World Health Organization provided technical guidance along with support for provincial and territorial dengue monitoring and coordination committees.[http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2011/09/pakistan-hit-by-dengue-fever-outbreak/ "Pakistan hit by Dengue fever outbreak."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212033510/http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2011/09/pakistan-hit-by-dengue-fever-outbreak/ |date=2011-12-12 }} UNmultimedia.org September 2011.
See also
{{portal|Pakistan}}{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Epidemics}}
Category:Disease outbreaks in Pakistan
Dengue Outbreak In Pakistan, 2011