Dengue nightmare continues to haunt K-P

In the last 24 hours, 77 more cases of dengue have been confirmed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

In October alone, the number of dengue cases in the province has reached 2,333. According to the health department's latest report, there are currently 472 active dengue cases in the province. Over the past 24 hours, seven people were hospitalized due to dengue, with a total of 37 patients currently under treatment in hospitals.

So far this year, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported a total of 3,237 dengue cases. In October, Peshawar recorded the highest number of cases with 891, followed by Lower Kohistan with 178, Mansehra with 163, Kohat with 134, Nowshera with 124, Hangu with 105, and Abbottabad with 103 cases.

Other areas include Charsadda with 93 cases, Swat with 78, Mardan with 66, D.I. Khan with 57, Karak with 56, Bannu with 63, and 42 cases each in Lakki Marwat and Haripur. The province has recorded two dengue-related deaths to date in 2024.

There seems to be not let up in the number of positive cases, despite the best efforts of health authorities. On October 16, 104 more people were confirmed to have dengue in a span of 24 hours.

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.