LAHORE: According to the sources, at least four doctors of the Mayo Hospital contracted the illness while treating patients.
One of the victims, Dr Tooba Mehmood, said patients are visiting the hospital and even doctors have contracted the disease. “At least four of us have already fallen prey to the illness, while the government is unable to give protective gear to doctors,” she said.
“People who have never had chickenpox should be careful and wear a mask daily as a precautionary measure,” she advised.
“Wearing an ordinary mask does not prevent the exposure to the varicella virus and doctors need to wear the N95 variety”, Dr Abid Mehmood, a United Kingdom-based public health specialist, said.
A senior paediatrician, Dr Qazi Mumtaz, stressed that patients with symptoms of high fever, rashes on the body, vomiting and stiffness in the neck should immediately visit to a hospital for proper treatment.
The virus can spread through saliva, mucus or contact with the blisters of the infected person. It can also be transmitted through the air by coughing or sneezing. “People who have never suffered or been vaccinated can easily contract it”, he said.
According to the health department, at least 19 deaths were reported in different districts of the province. Around 1,591 cases of chickenpox have been reported in Punjab, of which 821 were from Faisalabad district alone.
