Turbat, a city in Balochistan’s Kech district, is battling a sharp rise in dengue fever cases. The surge has provoked fear among its residents, escalated public health concerns, and sparked growing dissatisfaction with what many perceive as an insufficient government response.
Dengue fever, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes and common in warm climates, can rapidly evolve from a mild condition to a severe, potentially life-threatening illness, particularly in those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms like fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, and body aches can intensify within days following infection.
One of the most critical health risks associated with dengue is a significant reduction in platelet count. While healthy adults typically maintain platelet counts between 150,000 and 450,000, dengue-affected individuals may see their counts plunge to perilously low levels between 20,000 and 40,000. This drastic reduction often necessitates blood transfusions in severe cases.
The Kech district, encompassing areas like Gogadan, Dhank, Bahman Shahi Tump, Koshkalat, Dashti Bazar, and Apsar, among others, has reported 45 new cases of dengue fever. With the death toll approaching 20, there’s an intensifying sense of urgency to contain the crisis.
Healthcare professionals, including Assistant Professor Dr. Waqar Taj and Dr. Iqbal Baloch of Makran Medical College, have stressed the severity of the situation and the crucial need for preventive measures. “Dengue is a complex viral disease and is typically more prevalent in those with weakened immune systems,” they explained. “Four types of viruses cause dengue in humans, and a person can be infected by each type only once.”
Dengue symptoms generally appear 3 to 7 days post-infection. The disease can strike in any season, even though it’s more common in hot and humid climates. It spreads when a mosquito, having previously bitten an infected person, bites another individual. The early symptoms can be subtle, but a diagnosis of dengue fever is confirmed with high viral concentrations in the blood.
Healthcare professionals strongly recommend a range of preventive measures. These include avoiding mosquito exposure, maintaining cleanliness, using synthetic mosquito-killing substances, and ensuring food is adequately covered, among others.