Dengue bites K-P hard

As many as 46 cases emerge within 24 hours

PESHAWAR:

Dengue has once again held the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa firmly in its grip, as 46 more cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours.

The total number of dengue cases in the province has reached 356. According to a report by the K-P Health Department, 46 new cases have been confirmed in the last 24 hours in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

One patient was admitted to the hospital over the last 24 hours due to dengue fever. The report issued by the Health Department states that in September alone, 213 cases have been reported, with the highest number of cases (54) reported from Peshawar.

Similarly, in this month, 35 cases have been reported in Abbottabad and Nowshera, 24 in Hangu, and 15 in Mansehra. Other areas with reported cases include Charsadda (9), Mardan (8), Dera Ismail Khan (5), Bajaur, Bannu, Malakand, and Lakki Marwat (4 cases each).

One case each has been reported from Tank, Kohat, Upper Dir, and Swat. There are currently 137 active cases in the province. So far, 91 patients have been admitted to hospitals, where they received treatment.

The report also mentioned dengue clusters in areas like Malakandher, Palosai, Nasir Bagh in Peshawar, Mandio in Bannu, Garhi Habibullah in Mansehra, and Salute and Kothala in Abbottabad, where regular fumigation campaigns are being carried out to eliminate the virus.

It was reported on Thursday that with the change in weather, hospitals in Peshawar received more than 100 suspected dengue patients at emergency, with as many as 39 testing positive over a 24-hour period.

Health officials confirmed to The Express Tribune that over 100 patients reached the emergency department of Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC). Their blood samples were collected and sent for screening. Of the total, a staggering 39 tested positive for dengue.

"Around 28 patients are currently receiving treatment at home, while two have been hospitalised," the officials. Just a day ago, 11 patients were received by the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH). To tackle the situation, the health department has dispatched special teams to various suburban areas of Peshawar where dengue cases have been reported. On the instructions of Health Advisor Ehtesham Ali, a spray campaign has been initiated in five districts, including Peshawar, Abbottabad, Bannu, Swabi, and Nowshera.

Fogging and fumigation activities have begun in union councils identified as hotspots. The health advisor has directed dengue control teams to immediately visit the affected areas, conduct fumigation, and distribute mosquito nets.

These activities are underway in Tehkal, the old walled city, Nasir Bagh Road, Hayatabad, and other affected areas.

IRS spray is also being used to eliminate dengue mosquitoes inside homes, while larva elimination activities have been intensified inside residences. In addition, public awareness campaigns have been launched at the union council level to educate people about dengue prevention.

The health advisor has directed line departments to implement the Dengue Action Plan 2024 effectively. The general public has been advised to report any dengue-related complaints on the health department's social media or the advisor's official page(s). It was emphasised that no negligence will be tolerated when it comes to controlling the virus.

Around 130 cases of dengue have been reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa this year. Provincial Health Secretary Adeel Shah has announced that due to the effective dengue control measures implemented by the health department and the cooperation of the general public, a limited number of dengue cases have been reported in the province.