KARACHI - Dengue Fever has resurfaced here in the provincial metropolis following the heavy monsoon rains, as dozens of patients with symptoms of the fever are said to have been reported in different hospitals of the city. The patients are rushing to different health facilities with the symptoms of bleeding, high fever and vomiting, as rainy days are specific for breeding of mosquitoes causing dengue fever, which is largely an urban phenomenon. The heavy torrential rains in the province may help activating victors (eggs) of the mosquitoes as rains have created new ponds which have the potential to multiply the incidence of the disease if the water of these temporary pools does not drain out immediately. The water collected under air conditioner vents, and even unused WCs in the house can serve as breeding grounds for Aedes aegypti mosquito. While the temperature from 22 to 30 degree centigrade help in the breeding of mosquitoes. However, dilemma of flood in the country, especially in Sindh may aggravate the situation. On the other hand, the Sindh Health Department has yet to activate its Dengue Fever Monitoring Cell despite the fact that several dengue cases have resurfaced in the city. Spokesman to Sindh Health Minister Dr Saghir Ahmed told The Nation that Dengue Fever Monitoring Cell was activated and Dr Shakil Malik was the focal person. He said that the department was busy in flood relief activities; there was no alarming situation in the province regarding dengue fever, while nearly 92 dengue cases have been reported in the province since January, 2010. The large number of cases are from Karachi, he added. As per WHO, Dengue is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. It occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Symptoms appear 3-14 days after the infective bite. Dengue fever is a febrile illness that affects infants, young children and adults. Symptoms range from a mild fever, to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash. There are no specific antiviral medicines for dengue. General Secretary Pakistan Medical Association (Karachi) Dr Amir Raza Abedi have strongly cautioned the citizens to prevent themselves from mosquito bites by wearing appropriate dresses, using repellents and insecticides and watching against any collection of water even small puddles. He said that usually dengue cases are reported from August. He advised the City District Government Karachi to spray Kerosene oil over the water pools, developed due to heavy rain, to halt the breeding of mosquitoes.