A dengue-like outbreak of unknown aetiology in Pakistan

Hamid A Merchant

doi:10.1186/s41182-022-00426-3

A dengue-like outbreak of unknown aetiology in Pakistan

Trop Med Health. 2022 May 23;50(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s41182-022-00426-3.

Author

Hamid A Merchant^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, West Yorkshire, UK. hamid.merchant@hud.ac.uk.
² Health Services Academy, Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan. hamid.merchant@hud.ac.uk.

Abstract

There were recent reports of a mysterious virus spreading in Pakistan causing dengue-like illness with hundreds of cases admitted to hospitals over the winter. The mysterious virus was touted as a new variant of the dengue virus by the local health experts in Pakistan as most patients were tested negative for the dengue virus test despite presenting with dengue-like symptoms. In this letter, we have critically appraised the current situation in Pakistan in an attempt to explain the science and mechanism behind recent dengue-like outbreak, offered suggestions on diagnostic tests and provided recommendations to improve medication safety in Pakistan.

Keywords: COVID-19; Dengue fever; Pakistan; Public health; Thrombocytopenia.

Publication types

Letter