Dengue fever reported in Pakistan earlier than previous years

Pakistan reporting dengue fever cases earlier than normal
Published on March 19, 2012 by Jeffrey Bigongiari

Dengue fever
Even without monsoon rains and high temperatures, public health experts have already started registering cases of dengue fever this year in Karachi, Pakistan.

Dr. Shakeel Aamir Mullick, the head of the Dengue Surveillance Cell at Civil Hospital, said that 29 cases of the fever have been reported and treated since the beginning of January. Four cases of dengue were identified last week, according to Tribune.com.

“This disease is like influenza, which affects people throughout the year,” Mullick said, Tribune.com reports.

Dengue cases are expected to surge in between August and November. Typically, according to the provincial surveillance authorities, the first quarter of the year sees relatively few cases.

Mullick said that 15 cases were reported in the first six months of 2011, but that the number then skyrocketed in the second half of the year.

All of the cases reported so far in Sindh province have occurred in Karachi. Last year, out of 1,079 dengue cases in the region, 858 were located in city, Tribune.com reports.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne infection that is a leading cause of illness and death in the tropics and subtropics. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 100 million people are infected with dengue every year.
This entry was published in Medical Countermeasuresvaccinenewsdaily.com/medical_countermeasures/318255-pakistan-reporting-dengue-fever-cases-earlier-than-normal/

Where are my (or my child's) immunization records?

There is no central repository of vaccination records. The only records that exist are the ones you or your parents were given when the vaccines were administered, and the ones in the medical record of the doctor or clinic where the vaccines were given. Sometimes schools hold the vaccination records of children who attended, but these records are usually not kept for more than a year or two.

If you cannot locate your personal record or the record from your doctor, it may be necessary to repeat some of the vaccines or arrange blood tests to determine your immunity.
Where can I look for existing immunization records?

Children's records

* Try calling your local or state health department's immunization program.
* Sometimes schools hold the vaccination records of children who attended, but these records are generally not kept for more than a year or two or, at the longest, until graduation. After a student graduates, records are sent to storage and may not be accessible.
* Look for family records such as a baby book.
* Check for records with your doctor or public health clinic. Please keep in mind, however, that immunization records are maintained for a limited number of years, and then usually only by the medical provider who actually administered the vaccines.

College student's records

* Many colleges provide vaccinations (often, certain vaccinations are required for enrollment). Contact your college's medical services department (student health) for further information. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/immuniz-records.htm