An experience with dengue in Pakistan: An expanding problem

Abstract

Introduction: Emerging infectious diseases pose threats to the general human population including recipients of blood transfusions and health care workers. Dengue is an expanding problem in tropical and subtropical regions. It is now the most frequent arboviral disease in the world, with an estimated 100 million cases of dengue fever annually, 250,000 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever, and 25,000 deaths per year (1). Materials & Methods: A total of 459 blood serum samples were collected from suspected patients of dengue fever, aged 10 to 65 years, from different parts of the city, at two different Pathological Laboratories of the city and were subjected to hematological, biochemical and serological analysis using standard laboratory procedures including Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of Dengue specific IgG and IgM antibodies. Results: Out of 459 blood samples 289 (63%) were confirmed as having significant dengue IgM antibody titer and dengue IgG antibody titer in 193 (42%) patients. Conclusion: This paper discusses the need of an appropriate framework for approaching the environmental control of Dengue virus/Dengue Fever/Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever with reference to the current situation of the flooding and flood related disasters in a resource limited country such as Pakistan. This is the time to evoke a sense of moral indignation at unnecessary suffering and for the leadership to mobilize human will power and resources to take on the task of controlling emerging infectious diseases like malaria and dengue.