Pakistan: Gov't accused of criminal negligence for hiding dengue outbreak

Pakistan: Gov't accused of criminal negligence for hiding dengue outbreak

2011-09-06 08:28:10 GMT+7 (ICT)

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistan's Punjab government has been accused of criminal negligence for not being transparent about the ongoing dengue fever outbreak which has infected thousands of people.

The Pakistani Health Department said that as of Saturday, as many as 1,513 dengue fever patients have recovered. According to the department, 80 percent of the cases had been reported in posh areas such as Defence, Model Town and Cantonment.

Advocate Noshab A Khan told the Pakistan Tribune that while the Health Department has reported over 1,000 cases, family physicians and more than 100 private hospitals in Lahore have diagnosed some 2,000 cases. He said the outbreak has worsened because it has not been properly controlled.

Noshab A Khan added that not enough platelet kits needed for treatment are available and that the fumigation campaign is of poor quality.

As of Monday, one person has been killed as a result of the dengue fever outbreak. The country's Health Department has ordered an investigation into the fatal case of Saeed Anwar, who died in Lahore General Hospital.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif called on officials from different departments to increase health measures to fight the virus and directed them to purchase additional medicine. He also called for pesticides to be administered in residential areas and streets.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-09-06