Dengue onslaught

Cleanliness is the best option to prevent most diseases, including dengue fever. Unfortunately, civic conditions in most cities of the country are far from satisfactory. This is a sure recipe for the spread of vector-borne illnesses like dengue and viral fever. Since health services are already burdened with the Covid-19 pandemic, it would be difficult for them to cope with a dengue epidemic. The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and the capital city of Punjab, Lahore, and several other cities of the province are in the grip of dengue fever, and the cause of which is lack of cleanliness, mainly stagnant rainwater due to choked drains.

Conditions and the season are ideal for the breeding of dengue mosquitoes. The total number of cases in Lahore has climbed to 687, and in the twin cities the number has reached 410. More people are being tested positive every day. One dengue death has been reported in Lahore. Some cases have been reported from the Mardan area of K-P. Now authorities have declared a dengue emergency in all major hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad till Nov 30. In October and November, dengue mosquitoes multiply fast .The dengue-causing mosquitoes breed rapidly in clean water, so the government has launched a special drive to drain away rainwater from public places and is taking steps to prevent accumulation of water at such places. In the twin cities, three dengue workers have been suspended for being absent from duty. In view of the increasing number of dengue cases, special wards in hospitals have been allocated for dengue patients.

In Sindh too, cases of dengue are being reported. Cases are feared to increase given the prevailing unhygienic conditions in urban areas of the province. The provincial government needs to be seriously focused on draining away water and removal of garbage. It is also essential to crack down on corruption and sloth in government departments. Corrupt and non-performing staff should be punished.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2021.

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