Pakistan’s Dengue Cases 125 Times Higher Than Official Figures

News Desk

Karachi: Dengue infections in Pakistan may have been significantly underreported, with the actual number of cases in 2022 estimated to be 125 times higher than official figures, according to a major study conducted by researchers at Aga Khan University.

The study estimated that Pakistan recorded around 3.28 million dengue cases in 2022, compared with just 25,932 cases reported in official records during the same year.

Researchers analyzed dengue data from 2012 to 2022 using information collected from more than 990 diagnostic laboratory collection units across the country.

According to the findings, estimated dengue cases increased from around 100,000 in 2012 to 3.28 million in 2022, representing an approximately 33-fold increase over a decade.

Sindh emerged as the worst-affected province, accounting for an estimated 2.63 million cases in 2022. The province recorded an estimated incidence of 45.63 cases per 1,000 people.

Tharparkar was identified as the district with the highest dengue incidence, while Karachi East recorded an incidence of 200.41 cases per 1,000 people.

People aged between 15 and 49 years were found to be the most affected age group, accounting for an estimated 1.6 million cases in 2022. Balochistan recorded an estimated 6,785 cases during the same year.

The study also found evidence that dengue is no longer strictly a seasonal disease in Pakistan, with transmission continuing throughout the year. Cases showed a sustained increase during September, October and November, while significant surges were recorded in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

Researchers called for stronger coordination between health departments and local government institutions to improve dengue surveillance and response.

They also urged policymakers to consider dengue vaccination alongside existing prevention and control measures to tackle the growing disease burden.