By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

In a follow-up on the dengue outbreak in Pakistan, health officials in Punjab province in eastern Pakistan report dengue fever cases are rising at an alarming rate.

pakistanToday, provincial officials reported another 508 cases, with most of the cases reported from the capital city of Lahore. This brings the total to more than 5,700 province-wide this year.

The death toll due to dengue rose by 18.

In addition, officials report that all four strains of the dengue virus — DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4 — are circulating in Lahore, which means the number of critical patients and deaths may increase.

Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites. The disease can take up to 2 weeks to develop with illness generally lasting less than a week.

Health effects from dengue include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding.

Dengue can become severe within a few hours. Severe dengue is a medical emergency, usually requiring hospitalization.

In severe cases, health effects can include hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding), shock (seriously low blood pressure), organ failure, and death.

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