Chikungunya has Not Claimed Any Lives in Karachi: Govt.

KARACHI- Director Health Services, Karachi, Dr Muhammad Taufiq said there is no epidemic of Chikungunya in Karachi while no any death was reported from this viral fever from any part of the city so far.
Addressing a press conference at Directorate of Health Services Karachi, Dr Taufiq said some section of media falsely reported that Chikungunya claims of lives of citizens, and takes epidemic turn in some areas of Malir and Bin Qasim but he categorically denied that no any death was reported from Chikungunya. He explained that Chikungunya is viral disease but rarely fatal, while the death rate of the disease-affected people is less than one per cent.
Program Manager, Prevention and Control Program for Dengue for Sindh, Dr Abdul Rashid, Director, Malaria Control Program Sindh, Dr Naheed Jamali, Dr Syed Qamar Abbas, Dr Kamran Rizvi, Dr Arif Niaz, Dr Asif Syed and District Health Officers (DHOs) were also present on this occasion.

Director Health informed that a total 4,138 Chikungunya suspected cases have been surfaced in Sindh province out of which 3462 were reported Karachi and 675 were detected from other parts of province. He said 45 were tested positive out of 62 blood samples sent to National Institutes of Health (NIH) for investigation.
He said dengue is a deadly disease but chikungunya is rarely fatal. He explained that Chikungunya is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes and the major symptoms include high fever, joint pain, muscle pain and fatigue.
He feared that cases of malaria, dengue, Chikungunya and other vector born-diseases can be go up any time in the city as Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) administration has not maintaining sewerage system of the city while heaps of garbage and remaining of sacrificial animals can also be seen in city streets or roads.
Dr Taufiq asked media to stop airing false and fabricated news about Chikungunya. He said coordinated efforts are needed from all stakeholders of the society to prevent from malaria, dengue and Chikunguna threat in future.