LAHORE: Six more patients succumbed to the virus in Lahore on Monday, while more than 7,000 cases were reported in Punjab.

The death toll from the dengue virus has now reached 39 in Lahore.

Unofficial reports suggest that over 12,000 people have been affected by dengue in Lahore alone. The virus has also claimed one life in Islamabad.

In Multan, four more patients have been diagnosed with dengue fever, bringing the total number of patients to 68 in the city.

Hospitals are overflowing and more than 20,000 people are undergoing complete blood count (CBC) tests on a daily basis.

Experts say the dengue outbreak will continue to grow at an alarming rate in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has summoned a health conference in Lahore today to review the progress made to control the spread of virus.

LABS

The Punjab Health Department has sealed 46 private laboratories in the last two days for over-charging people coming for a complete blood count test.

63 medical stores have also been sealed on the orders of the chief minister for overcharging people.

The Punjab government has set Rs90 as the standard rate for a blood test for all laboratories.

A team consisting of MPA Khawaja Salman and DIG Mubasharullah visited various laboratories in Lahore to check their rates, and sealed the ones that were found overcharging patients.

However, people complained that sealing laboratories is resulting in an increased number of people visiting government hospitals for a CBC test.

They suggested that the government should make efforts to implement their decisions rather than seal laboratories.