Dengue Alert: Twin Cities Report Over 3,700 Cases

News Desk

Islamabad/Rawalpindi: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon, convened a high-level meeting to address the ongoing dengue outbreak in the Federal Capital and Rawalpindi, urging officials to intensify efforts to control the spread of the virus.

During the meeting, participants reviewed current dengue prevention measures and assessed the increasing number of cases in the twin cities. Officials reported that Islamabad has recorded 1,676 dengue cases, while Rawalpindi has seen a total of 2,113 cases.

The authorities are closely monitoring hospital capacities to ensure timely medical attention for infected individuals.

In response to the outbreak, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has allocated 104 beds specifically for dengue patients. Additionally, Polyclinic Hospital has set aside 50 beds, and Capital Hospital has dedicated 30 beds for treatment.

Data from the meeting indicated that men are disproportionately affected by the virus, accounting for 67 percent of cases compared to 33 percent for women. In the last 24 hours alone, 67 new cases were reported in Islamabad, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

The health department is actively conducting inspections and monitoring dengue prevention efforts. In the past week, authorities identified 1,821 positive dengue larvae in various areas of the city.

From September 30 to October 3, a total of 214 inspections were conducted to ensure compliance with anti-dengue Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). During these inspections, 60 individuals were arrested for violating SOPs, and 23 cases were registered, as officials take these violations seriously due to their contribution to the virus’s spread.

The DC of Islamabad has called for a more aggressive approach to tackling the outbreak, instructing all relevant teams to accelerate their operations to curb the rising number of dengue cases.

Dengue Emergency

The district administration in Rawalpindi has formally declared a “Dengue Emergency” in response to the severe outbreak.

A notification issued by DC and Administrator District Health Authority, Hassan Waqar Cheema, highlighted the ongoing challenge posed by dengue fever.

Over the past month and a half, six fatalities have been reported among dengue patients, with the district recording 2,277 cases this year.

In the last 24 hours, 134 new dengue cases have been diagnosed, increasing the treatment load in hospitals to 268.

Mobile health units have examined 4,109 patients in various areas, providing 100 percent free medicines, according to the latest dengue update released on Wednesday.