PESHAWAR: The dengue situation in Pakistan continues to raise alarms as health authorities report rising infections across multiple provinces. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Health Department confirmed 74 new dengue cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the province’s total to 3,939.
Of these, 23 patients were admitted to various hospitals yesterday, while 33 are currently undergoing treatment. Tragically, two people have lost their lives to the virus so far this season.
The provinces most affected include Charsadda (1,051 cases), Peshawar (386), Mardan (343), Haripur (329), and Mansehra (299). Health officials are urging residents to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and seek medical attention at the first signs of fever.
Dengue cases are also rising across other parts of the country. In the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 31 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, with 16 from rural areas and 15 from urban areas. Field teams have inspected 41,709 locations as part of ongoing fumigation and preventive measures. Residents are being urged to remove stagnant water and maintain household cleanliness to prevent mosquito breeding.
In Punjab, dengue cases are also climbing. Rawalpindi recorded 14 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the city’s total to 1,177. More than 50 patients are currently under treatment, and over 18,000 people have been screened since the start of the season. Province-wide, 53 new cases were confirmed, including 18 in Lahore, 13 in Rawalpindi, 7 in Multan, and 5 in Faisalabad, bringing Punjab’s total to 2,615 cases, with Lahore alone accounting for 492.
Authorities in Punjab have conducted extensive inspections, checking over 5.9 million buildings and recovering dengue larvae from 189,176 homes. Violations of anti-dengue SOPs have led to 4,630 cases being registered and 1,882 premises sealed.
Meanwhile, in Sindh, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah chaired an emergency meeting to review the provincial dengue situation. So far, 982 cases have been reported this year, including 641 in Karachi and 178 in Hyderabad. Sindh has set up 239 dengue wards with 1,289 beds and is offering free testing in 117 government laboratories, while private hospital testing prices have also been reduced.
Officials in Sindh have been directed to implement a Union Council-level fumigation plan, remove mosquito larvae scientifically, launch public awareness campaigns, and ensure prompt responses to public complaints via the Health Department helpline.
Health experts across the country continue to stress vigilance, early diagnosis, and community participation as essential tools to control the outbreak before the end of the mosquito-breeding season.