Dengue alarms ring loud in Punjab: Lahore leads with 1189 confirmed cases

Shazia Mehboob

Lahore/ Sargodha/Rawalpindi: In the past 24 hours, 638 dengue cases were reported in parts of Punjab, while the district administrations in Rawalpindi and Sargodha have registered 125 cases against individuals for failing to observe SoPs.

Punjab has witnessed a concerning increase in dengue fever cases, with around 104 newly confirmed cases. According to the Health department’s fresh data, there have been a phenomenal total of 2,925 confirmed dengue cases scattered over 36 districts in Punjab this year.

Lahore leads the way with 1189 confirmed cases, followed by Rawalpindi, Multan, and Gujranwala, with 700, 347, and 118 cases respectively.

Lahore reported 41 new dengue cases in the last 24 hours, Rawalpindi 33, Multan 16, Gujranwala 4, Muzaffargarh 2, while Sheikhupura, Narowal, Gujrat, Dera Ghazi Khan, Mandi Bahauddin, Chiniot, Hafizabad, and Layyah each registered one new case.

At the moment, 120 dengue patients are undergoing treatment in various hospitals across Punjab, with 52 of them being treated at Lahore district hospitals.

“No dengue-related fatalities have been reported in the province this year,” said Health Secretary Punjab Ali Jaan Khan.

Khan has urged citizens to keep their surroundings clean and dry as a preventive precaution against dengue fever and asked for their cooperation with the health department officials.

Citizens can contact the health department’s toll-free helpline at 1033 for dengue-related treatment, information, or complaints. In order to stop the spread of dengue in Punjab, vigilance and proactive measures were required.

Sargodha reported 534 dengue cases: A total of 534 cases of dengue cases were reported, while the district administration Sargodha lodged cases against 65 for their failing to observe dengue SoPs.

During a meeting on the District Emergency Response Committee for anti-dengue on Wednesday, it was informed that during the current season, the surveillance teams identified and eliminated dengue larvae at 728 locations, and 330 legal notices were also issued over violations.

The deputy commissioner Sargodha emphasized the importance of taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of dengue in the city. He also directed for better sanitation arrangements in various parts to control dengue and urged for early removal of stagnant water.

Pindi admin action against violators: The District Health Authority (DHA) had lodged 60 cases and sealed three premises on violations of anti-dengue SOPs during the last 24 hours.

District Coordinator Epidemics Prevention and Control (DCEPC) Dr Sajjad Mehmood on Wednesday said that the Health Department, in collaboration with allied departments, had issued tickets to 10 and imposed a fine of Rs 50,500 on violations of dengue SOPs during the last 24 hours.

Currently, the health officer said that 136 patients are being treated in different health facilities throughout the Rawalpindi district, with 99 confirmed cases and 642 were discharged after treatment.

Dr Sajjad went on to say that with the arrival of 31 new patients in the last 24 hours, the district’s total tally has risen to 741 confirmed cases. He stated that 19 patients had arrived from the Potohar town urban area, five from the Municipal Corporation, and two each from Chaklala and Rawalpindi cantonments.

September was a critical month for dengue transmission and urged citizens to take precautions to minimize mosquito bites.