Death toll due to Dengue rises to 11 as 239 new cases reported in KP

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: The number of deaths reported from the dengue virus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reached 11 as at least 239 new cases of dengue were reported on Tuesday.

The total number of cases has now crossed 3,200 in the province. The dengue response unit said 1,794 people were tested today and added that out of the 239 new cases, 153 were admitted in hospital for treatment.

Hospitals are already treating 455 people infected by dengue, said the response unit. The virus has also spread to other towns and cities of the province, with Buner reporting 30 people under treatment, Swabi reporting 12 and Mardan reporting 16 under treatment.

Earlier, affected areas of Peshawar were declared as Red Zones. Dengue affected areas in Peshawar declared Red Zone

“Peshawar has been divided into three zones: Red Zone is the one where the dengue virus is epidemic, Yellow Zone comprises areas neighbouring the Red Zone and the third is Green Zone,” Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Saqib Raza Aslam had told media.

Experts, whose help has been sought to fight the virus, said that old tyres in the district have served as the breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes. They also believe the mosquitoes breeding in the area could spread across the country.

The Peshawar district administration has said over 200 teams were working towards eradicating the dengue virus and have fumigated 15,000 houses so far in an attempt to kill dengue mosquitoes.