Rising dengue cases ring alarm bells

The tally of confirmed dengue patients in Rawalpindi district has surged to 60, prompting concern among health and administrative officials.

According to sources, apart from the allied hospital, private hospitals in the district are also grappling with a rise in dengue patients.

Efforts to manage dengue remain challenging as hospitals struggle to establish essential control measures. Notably, the area with the highest concentration of dengue patients is Union Council 45’s Chaman Zar Colony within Rawalpindi City. A recent independent survey uncovered significant dengue larvae infestations across 24 locations in this vicinity.

To combat the situation, the District Health Authority and affiliated departments are actively engaged in anti-dengue initiatives throughout the district. Experts have singled out the months of August, September, and October as particularly hazardous for the proliferation of dengue.

So far 23 cases have been reported in Rawal Town, 12 in Potohar Town, 11 in Chaklala Cantonment, 7 in Rawalpindi Cantonment, 2 in Kotli Sattian, 2 in Pothwar Rural, 1 in Kahuta, 1 in Taxila, and another in Gujarkhan. On Friday alone, the District Health Authority and its associated departments registered 35 FIRs for breaching Dengue SOPs throughout the district. Alongside this, 11 challans were issued, nine premises were sealed, and fines totaling Rs73,000 were levied.

Of these, 26 FIRs were lodged by the District Health Authority Rawalpindi.

Elaborating on the matter, District Coordinator for Epidemic Prevention and Control at the District Health Authority Rawalpindi Dr Sajjad Mehmood emphasised that dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted through the bite of an infected female mosquito.

The prevalence of dengue has become endemic in Rawalpindi district, with cases reported from various parts of the city. Notably affected areas include Gulistan Colony, Dhok Munshi Khan, Chaman Zar, and Dhok Elahi Baksh under the jurisdiction of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2023..