Outbreak in waiting: Dengue threat looms large in wake of flooding

As if the residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) did not have enough misery on their plates due to the monsoon rain-induced flooding, health experts are now sounding the alarm bells for a dengue outbreak that could add to their worries.

While the provincial government has indicated a preparedness to fight with a potential outbreak of the mosquito-borne viral disease, experts fear that it might be too little too late and predict that infections will surge in the near future. For Murad Khan, a student at the University of Peshawar, experts’ fears have become a reality as his brother recently got infected.

“It is the same story every year. The government informs us that spraying has been done and an awareness campaign is underway but still countless people get infected and fight for their lives.” Murad, directing his critique towards local dengue control teams, said that they only visited once the disease had already spread. Similarly, Minhaj Uddin, who lives in the Palosai area of Peshawar, citing the emergency situation that last year’s dengue wave caused in the city, said that despite the local administration being aware of his area being a disease hotbed, they were just silent spectators.

“There is standing water everywhere and mosquitoes must be licking their lips in anticipation of the havoc they are about to cause,” Minhaj said, “however, neither the local government officials nor anyone else has visited to spray the area. They do not care about us.” So far since the start of the year, as per the Malaria and Dengue Control Programme data, obtained by The Express Tribune, 115 cases of dengue have been reported. When asked about the potential upsurge in cases, Dr Qasim Afridi, Coordinator of the provincial Malaria and Dengue Control Programme, concurred that the threat was real owing to the recent flooding.

Talking about the preparation of the department, Dr Qasim informed that the programme for dengue Surveillance was trying their best to cover all districts of K-P, adding that every two weeks the Chief Secretary and all the Deputy Commissioners and District Health Officers meet to review the dengue action plan. However, Dr Qasim was quick to add that the onus for any measures against the infection being successful lay on the provincial government. “We have requested the government to provide emergency funds but have not received any yet.” He further stated that the current emergency budget of Rs 72 million was not enough to deal with the Programme’s efforts to combat dengue in all districts. “We desperately need a cash injection for the dengue action plan,” the Coordinator implored.

Dr Qasim went on to say that the department was trying to create awareness among the public regarding dengue but people should also do their part and inform others about the dangers of the disease, which he said was their “civic duty.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2022.