Dengue Fever is still alive in Pakistan BY AQEEL AHMED RAJPAR

Karachi, Nov 08: Comprehensive public awareness campaign made by Health Department, but dozens of new cases of dengue fever have been reported in the country as seven persons have died and 29 suffering in this year whereas the number of dengue patients in 2008 was 1332.

Chairman Task Force on drugs, Dr. Saeed Elahi said that we achieve the desired results of awareness campaign and people adopted precautionary measures besides spray of their houses.

Over 500 suspected patients of dengue virus have reported in various hospitals of Karachi while the Health Department has made the dengue fully functional as yet.

The health experts have said that cases of dengue affected patients have started appearing again, majority of these patients are being treated in private clinics and hospitals and a very small number is coming to government hospitals.

Sources said that exact number of dengue cases cannot be determined, as the dengue cell is still non-functional.

According to reports during last week seven patients of dengue fever have been died in different parts of Punjab, while several new patients have been admitted in hospitals.

The health experts have advised the people not to let water stand anywhere in their houses and streets.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), a potentially lethal complication, was first recognized in the 1950s during dengue epidemics in the Philippines and Thailand.

Today DHF affects most Asian countries and has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in the region.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness, and sometimes a potentially lethal complication called dengue haemorrhagic fever, experts said.

World Health Organisation (WHO) currently estimates there may be 50 million dengue infections worldwide every year.



Global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades about 2.5 billion people-two fifths of the world's populations are now at risk.

Experts said that dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children.

There is no specific treatment for dengue, but appropriate medical care frequently saves the lives of patients with the more serious dengue haemorrhagic fever.

The only way to prevent dengue virus transmission is to combat the disease carrying mosquitoes.

According to Chinese medical encyclopedia the first record case of probable dengue fever from the Jin Dynasty (265–420 AD) which referred to a “water poison” associated with flying insects.

The first confirmed case report dates from 1789 and is by Benjamin Rush, who coined the term "break bone fever" because of the symptoms of myalgia and arthralgia.

Population movements during World War II spread the disease globally. A pandemic of dengue began in Southeast Asia after World War II and has spread around the globe since then.

The disease is now common in more than 100 countries. South-east Asia and the Western Pacific are the most seriously affected. Before 1970 only nine countries had experienced DHF epidemics, a number that had increased more than four-fold by 1995.

During epidemics of dengue, infection rates among those who have not been previously exposed to the virus are often 40% to 50%, but can reach 80% to 90%.

An estimated 500 000 people with DHF require hospitalization each year, a very large proportion of whom are children. About 2.5% of those affected die.

Without proper treatment, DHF fatality rates can exceed 20%. Wider access to medical care with knowledge of DHF and proper treatment can reduce death rates to less than 1% health experts quoted.

Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans through the bites of infective female Aedes mosquitoes. Mosquitoes generally acquire the virus while feeding on the blood of an infected person.



Infected humans are the main carriers and multipliers of the virus, serving as a source of the virus for uninfected mosquitoes.

The virus circulates in the blood of infected humans for two to seven days, at approximately the same time that they have a fever; Aedes mosquitoes may acquire the virus when they feed on an individual during this period.

There is no vaccine to protect against dengue. Although progress is underway, developing a vaccine against the disease.

There is a lack of laboratory animal models available to test resistant responses to potential vaccines.

WHO provides technical advice and guidance to countries and private partners to support vaccine research and evaluation.

At present, the only method of controlling or preventing dengue virus transmission is to combat the vector mosquitoes.

In Asia Aedes breeds primarily in man-made containers like earthenware jars, metal drums and concrete cisterns used for domestic water storage, as well as discarded plastic food containers, used automobile tyres and other items that collect rainwater.

The rapid geographic spread of this species is largely attributed to the international trade in used tyres, a breeding habitat.

Regular monitoring is necessary to ensure the appropriate choice of chemicals. Active monitoring and surveillance of the natural mosquito population should accompany control efforts to determine dengue programme effectiveness.

Hillary’s double standard statements in her visit of Pakistan BY AQEEL AHMED RAJPAR

Karachi, Nov 02: US secretary of State Hillary Clinton has gone back after completing her visit to Pakistan with the mission to win the hearts of Pakistanis but pressurised the Government to take on Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups beyond South Waziristan for eliminating terrorism.

“With initial campaign in Swat and now in South Waziristan finished, I think the Pakistani military would have to go on to root out other terrorist groups or else they could come back to threaten Pakistan,” Ms Clinton said.

We are going to do everything we can speak directly to the people of Pakistan. I am specifically visited to Pakistan to reverse some of those misperceptions said Ms Clinton.

On her last day of the visit Clinton said that the US and Pakistan had mistrust about the location of Al-Qaeda’s presence. She also said that US cannot see innocent people being murdered at the hands of terrorist.

FATA parliamentarian showed reservations on drone attacks in their meeting with the US Secretary of State.

Ms Clinton expressed her resolve to stand by Pakistan in rooting out the menace of terrorism and secure future of the country. She said this during her visit to Police Line Headquarters to pay tributes to the martyred personnel of Islamabad police who sacrificed their lives

Ms Clinton had stirred controversy when she said at a meeting with journalists on Thursday that Pakistan lacked seriousness in pursuing Al Qaeda. “I find it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they are and could not get them if they really wanted to.”

However, Ms Clinton, on her trip consciously stayed away from saying anything that could undermine the purpose of the trip, did not relent after the statement and in numerous media interviews tried to impress on the Pakistani leadership that Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups were as big a threat to Pakistan as were the local Taliban.

“Our best information is that Al Qaeda leadership is somewhere in Pakistan. It is in the interest of Pakistan and US that we capture or kill Al Qaeda leadership because that will give a very serious blow to terrorists everywhere. Let us work in that direction said Ms Clinton.

“I understand priority for Pakistan will be focussing on those that are attacking you. That has to be your priority. But Al Qaeda is in league with those attacking Pakistan.”


Highlighting the link between Al Qaeda, Pakistani Taliban and other terror groups, she said: “The extremist and terrorist groups are part of syndicate of terror and Al Qaeda is head of that syndicate.”

Ms Clinton placed a lot of emphasis on this issue during her three-hour meeting with Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI Director General Lt-Gen Shuja Pasha on Thursday night.

There are apprehensions in Washington that the Pakistan military is going after only those who threaten its own security while ignoring those who launch attacks in Afghanistan.

As a means for resolving such contentious issues, towards the end of her trip on Friday, Ms Clinton proposed creation of “more open relationship between governments and people of America and Pakistan” and underlined the need for “honesty in relationship” between Washington and Islamabad.

Ms Clinton compounded the confusion over the presence of the US private security firm Blackwater Services in Pakistan by saying that some of their personnel might be having diplomatic immunity, but most of them didn’t.

“I understand the sensitivity of the issue, but I want to be clear why we have any contractors, well because we get dozens and dozens of threats every month directed towards our diplomats and public officials who are here for diplomatic activity”.

“Our diplomats don’t carry arms, but on the other hand if they have to get out they need security.”

She said the US was working with Pakistan to chalk out a mechanism for providing security to diplomats and officials assigned to Pakistan.

The issue of private security contractors echoed at her meeting with lawmakers in parliament, where former information minister Sherry Rehman warned her that if the issue was not resolved, it could compromise the very democracy the US was seeking to support.

Ms Clinton clarified that the security company was not above the law of land and asked Ambassador Patterson to look into the issue and address concerns.

During her meeting with leaders from the NWFP and Fata, the secretary of state underscored American support for humanitarian and livelihood assistance, education, media and communications for people living in areas of conflict.




“And we want to encourage everyone, not just the Pakistan government or the military but Pakistani citizens to realise the connection between Al Qaeda and these Taliban extremists who are threatening Pakistan. They are part of a syndicate of terror.”

She had underestimated the level of anti-American sentiment in Pakistan, Ms Clinton said: “No, because I’ve been following the research and the polling that’s gone on for a couple of years.

I knew that we were inheriting a pretty negative situation that we were going to have to address.”

Trust “is a two-way street,” she added. “I just want to keep putting on the table that we have some concerns as well. And I think that’s the kind of relationship I’m looking to build here.”

“We certainly have a common enemy in extremism and terrorism, and so part of what I have been doing is answering every single charge, every question.”

That’s why I wanted three days in the country, “a long trip for a secretary of state,” she said.

“I wanted to demonstrate that, look; we are not coming here claiming that everything we’ve done is perfect.

“I’ve admitted to mistakes by our country going back in time, but I’ve also reminded people that we’ve been partners and allies from the beginning of Pakistan’s inception as a country.

“Pakistan has helped us on several important occasions, and we are very grateful for that. So let’s begin to clear the air here.”

CRACKDOWN ON MADRESSAHS IN ISLAMABAD BY AQEEL AHMED RAJPAR

Islamabad, Oct, 19: Crackdown on Madressahs by government, to looking into their activities and to ensure that militants are not hiding there in the guise of students, 28 suspects was arrested, here on Monday.

The suspects staying in seminaries at Sector F-6/4 and Bhara Kahu were believed to be affiliated with the proscribed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Weapons were also seized from the suspects.

Initially six suspects arrested and taken to the local police stations from where they were shifted to undisclosed locations for further interrogation.

Sources told that, a teacher of a religious seminary was arrested near the Federal Government Services Hospital a few days ago, who told police that several militants groups affiliated with different organisation, including the TTP, had succeeded in entering Islamabad.

The sources said over a dozen militants were identified, adding that law enforcement agencies were making efforts to trace and arrest them.

The teams checked 10 madressahs, including Jamia Mohammadia, Jamia Qurtuba, Jamia Abbasia and Jamia Kazmia in Sihala area.

It was found that many students under the age of 16 and hailing from Batal, Batgram, Balakot, Bajour and Swat were studying there. Some of the teachers also hailed from these areas.

Four seminaries, located in Barakhu area were also searched. Included among them were Jamia Farooqia and Jamia Omar of the Deobandi sect and one of the Shia sect. Darul Huda in Golra was also searched.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that action would also be taken against foreign nationals working as prayer leaders.

“We will not allow any foreigner to become Imam-i-Masjid,” the minister said in a statement shortly after the crackdown was launched on the basis of intelligence reports that some of the suspects from the war zone of South Waziristan had taken refuge in madressahs and they could carry out terrorist attacks in Islamabad and other parts of the country.
Earlier, Wafaqul Madressahs, an association of seminaries, criticised the action and announced that such steps could undermine the agreement it had recently signed with the government.

Office-bearers of the Wafaqul Madressahs Maulana Saleemullah Khan and Mualana Muhammad Hanif Jalandhry claimed in a joint statement that police did not find anything objectionable in those seminaries.

Meanwhile, a joint team of city police and an intelligence agency raided an area adjacent to Sabzi Mandi and arrested 22 suspects, two of them women hailing from Fata and Afghanistan.

The arrests were made after intelligence agencies reported that pro-Taliban suspects were hiding in the area and they were involved in procuring weapons for militants for use in acts of terror in different parts of the country.

Later, a delegation comprising scholars of Wafaqul Madaris met Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Binyamin here on Monday.

In the meeting, they agreed that no foreigner would be given admission to any seminary or appointed as a prayer leader.

It was also decided that no one, student or teacher, would be allowed to keep weapons in seminaries.

Similarly, guests would not be allowed to visit or stay in seminaries, however, blood relatives of the students could meet their kin by following a proper procedure.

They also agreed that administrations of seminaries would keep sharing information with the police and district administration in future.

Separately, high-ups of the police department decided to make a comprehensive strategy to get information about terrorist elements and also to maintain high vigilance to thwart their nefarious designs.

It was decided in a meeting that E-7, F-7 and G-7 sectors are now in the high-security zone by stretching the police cordon from Seventh Avenue to Faisal Avenue.

In this regard over a dozen checkpoints would be set up in and around the Faisal Avenue to keep an eye on suspects and check their entry into the high-security zone.

The meeting said every possible effort should be made to root out the menace of terrorism and police wings like Special Branch, Crime Investigation Department, Islamabad Traffic Police, operational police and Police Line Headquarters would evolve a strategy to get information about the anti-social elements.