KARACHI: Hospitals in the port city have received an overwhelming number of patients complaining of cold, fever and body ache as cases of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya and other viral infections increase.

According to medical experts, both the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) and Civil Hospital are receiving at least 50 patients on a daily basis.

The Sindh Health Department told Geo News that at least 411 suspected cases of chikungunya were reported in the province, while 153 among those were confirmed after diagnosis.

At least 1,724 cases of dengue were reported in Sindh this year of which 1,484 were documented in Karachi alone, it said. One death due to dengue fever was also reported in Sindh this year, the department added.

The health department further stated that at least 2,22,239 cases of malaria were reported in Sindh this year with 1,768 diagnosed in Karachi.

Cases of chikungunya, too, have been on the rise in the city with several patients flocking to hospitals and doctors with the infection’s symptoms.

Geo News, however, learnt from sources that chikungunya testing kits were not available in government hospitals as number of cases skyrocket across medical centres.

When asked about the symptoms of the viral infections, Agha Khan Hospital family physician Dr Bilal Aheed told Geo.tv people experiencing high-grade fever, body aches, joint pain, and swelling or redness on the skin.

“These symptoms are often linked to viral fevers such as dengue and chikungunya, which are spread by a type of mosquito called Aedes,” said the doctor when responding to Geo.tv.

Specifically, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting these viruses, he added.

According to the family physician, these mosquitoes thrive in urban areas and breed in stagnant water, such as open containers, puddles, or water tanks.

How to prevent vector-borne, viral diseases?

The doctor shared the following measures to ensure prevention of the aforementioned diseases:

• Eliminate stagnant water around your home.
• Keep water containers tightly covered.
• Use mosquito repellents and bed nets.
• Wear long-sleeved clothing, especially in the early morning and evening hours when mosquitoes are most active.

RAWALPINDI: The patient who was thought to have contracted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Rawalpindi was actually suffering with a viral infection, said a health official on Saturday. 

Muhammad Ameen, who hailed from Punjab’s Kharian, had returned from a Middle Eastern country a month ago.

MERS-CoV — not to be confused with COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, pandemic — is a viral respiratory illness first identified in 2012, and has been reported in 27 countries. 

However, Medical Superintendent of Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) Dr Tahir Rizvi said MERS-CoV was not detected in the patient.

“The patient has been discharged after his recovery and testing negative for MERS-CoV,” the official said.

Following suspicion of Ameen’s contracting MERS-CoV, at least 40 members of his family were tested for the virus.

The 55-year-old was transferred to BBH in Rawalpindi on September 5, where he remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for several days. He was kept in isolation.

The MERS-CoV disease has a mortality rate of around 36%, although this figure may be inflated due to the underreporting of mild, undetected cases.

Symptoms of MERS-CoV include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, with some patients developing severe respiratory distress. The mortality rate is particularly high among those with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or chronic lung disease.

The infection is usually diagnosed through laboratory testing of respiratory specimens, but early detection remains challenging due to the nonspecific nature of its initial symptoms, which often resemble those of other respiratory illnesses.

Human-to-human transmission has been linked to delays in recognising symptoms and implementing isolation measures, highlighting the critical need for early detection and swift responses to potential cases.

As the world continues to battle respiratory infections, including COVID-19, maintaining awareness of MERS-CoV remains crucial. Public health education, hygiene practices, and responsible interactions with camels are key to preventing the spread of this dangerous virus.

An anxiety attack may be described as physical symptoms of anxiety which include faster breathing, nausea, dizziness, headaches and more.

In addition to being feelings of fear and worry, it can be a reaction to stress. Moreover, people can also go through anxiety when there is no identifiable stressor.

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM, there is no set definition of an anxiety attack. Notably, the definition of an anxiety attack is subjective and people may also say that they are experiencing an anxiety attack when in actuality they are describing a panic attack.

That is why it is important to be aware about the physical symptoms, which may be described as an anxiety attack

Feeling lightheaded and dizzy, a churning feeling, or a “knot” in the stomach, restlessness, faster breathing, diarrhoea, sweating, hot flushes, nausea, pins and needles, headaches and backaches and a fast or irregular heartbeat are considered symptoms of an anxiety attack, reported Medical News Today.

Additionally, anxiety may also have a specific trigger, such as an exam, workplace issues, a health issue, or a relationship problem.

It can also be a sign of an anxiety disorder, if it is persistent as well as have symptoms that are less intense than a panic attack.

Furthermore, it usually develops gradually when a person feels anxious.

In addition to being mild, moderate or severe, anxiety tends to develop gradually, and a person is usually worried or concerned at the outset.