Dengue risk looms large over K-P

Like every other year, the autumn of 2024 too has brought with it the woes of deadly mosquitos, delayed fumigation and stagnant water bodies. The fiasco of disease prevention involving dengue is yet again back to haunt the peaks and plains of K-P.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has declared five districts at risk of the spread of dengue, advising the concerned officers and district health officer to take serious efforts for the elimination of larva and from the environment. The most sensitive districts for dengue are Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Abbotabbad, and Swat.

Minhajuddin, a resident of the Pawaki area of Peshawar, while talking to The Express Tribune, complained that dengue fumigation had not been done in his area. “The health authorities are only reminded of the mosquito spray when the season is at its peak.

Our area is a hot spot of dengue and every year many cases are reported from here but so far neither any awareness campaign nor fumigation activity has been initiated,” revealed Minhaj, who further added that the community was working by itself to create awareness among people regarding dengue.

Similarly, Ajmal Khan, a social worker living in the Gulbahar area of Peshawar confirmed the claims that the Health Department K-P only began dengue fumigation during the months of October and September, which were considered the peak months for the endemic virus. “The approach of the Health Department towards dengue is very weak as the campaign should be carried out from January to August. Only then will the awareness campaign help reduce the cases of dengue,” he added.

According to data obtained by the Express Tribune from the Integrated Vector Controlled Program K-P from January to October 2024, a total number of 117 cases were reported in K-P, with Peshawar topping the list with 29 cases, followed by Abbottabad with 28 cases, Bannu with 11 cases, Swabi with 10 cases, and Bajor with 7 cases. Furthermore, 46 people were admitted across different hospitals with the Peshawar Hayatabad Medical Complex, Khyber Teaching Hospital and Lady Reading Hospital receiving more than 50 dengue positive patients each day.

Moreover, a report published by the Health Department of K-P claimed that awareness sessions organised for dengue covered a total of 1,663,430 locals while 5,676,888 houses, 27,056,108 containers and 789,800 outside spots were also inspected.

On the other hand, Director Public Health K-P Dr Irshad Roghani rejected the statement that the health department was not carrying out dengue fumigation on time, adding that all throughout the year the dengue team inspected every house in every area.

“Not only do we spray the environment but we also create awareness among people regarding the elimination of larva. Due to the health department and dengue control program, cases of dengue have decreased this year while so far no deaths have been reported in K-P either. All the hospitals have been directed to provide treatment to patients while special units have also been set up for treatment. So far, there is no emergency regarding dengue and the situation is fully controlled,” claimed Dr Roghani.