Murree becomes dengue 'epicentre'

Authorities have intensified dengue prevention and control efforts in Rawalpindi, with a particular focus on Union Council Ghail in Murree, identified as the epicentre of the outbreak after 14 cases were confirmed.

District Health Authority CEO Ehsan Ghani confirmed on Monday that with 34 total confirmed cases across the district, including 20 in Rawalpindi and 14 in Murree, the authority is deploying robust surveillance, strategic interventions, and community engagement to curb the spread of the virus.

According to the DHA's official data, as of August 4, Rawalpindi hospitals have screened 4,076 patients, identifying 3,819 suspected cases, 2 probable cases, and 34 confirmed cases, with 8 patients currently admitted. No dengue-related deaths have been reported this year.

To tackle the outbreak in Murree, the authority has established control rooms at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Murree and the Basic Health Units in Charhaan, Ban, and Danda to manage patient care efficiently, particularly in the Ghail area.

The DHA has mobilised staff from multiple sectors, including the Clean Punjab programme and the education department, to execute a detailed work plan targeting hard-to-reach hilly areas. The enhanced surveillance includes rigorous indoor and outdoor checking with the education department, and local influencers are driving community awareness and participation.

THQ Hospital Murree and Samli Sanatorium serve as primary referral points, with private hospitals and CMH integrated for timely treatment and monitoring. The data showed that since January 01, vector surveillance has covered 4,113,932 houses, identifying 46,282 dengue larvae-positive sites, and 1,083,685 spots, with 9,880 positive for larvae. All 56,162 detected larvae sites have been eliminated following standard protocols.

Towards punitive actions and enforcing compliance, the DHA has filed 1,747 FIRs, sealed 1,090 premises, issued 3,279 challans, and imposed fines totalling Rs3,161,500.0.