Stagnant floodwater spreads dengue
Dengue fever is spreading in Punjab with Lahore and Rawalpindi emerging as the hardest-hit cities.
Official figures show that the province has recorded 48 confirmed dengue cases in the past 24 hours, raising the tally for the ongoing season to 1,430.
Health experts cautioned that Lahore could face a serious dengue risk because of its humid weather, stagnant water in flood-affected areas and under-resourced healthcare facilities. Lahore recorded 15 new cases, pushing its total to 245, while Rawalpindi added 20 new cases, bringing its cumulative count to 676.
In major government hospitals in Lahore, patients and their families complained of delays, absent dengue counters, and crowded wards.
In Mayo Hospital, a visitor complained of having found the dengue counter inactive and no other guidance mechanism.
Staff at the Services Hospital admitted that the dengue desk was not regularly manned, leaving overworked nurses to face patients.
Patients waiting for treatment included children suffering from high fever. The rising workload forced patients to seek treatment from private clinics.
A doctor in Gulberg said the number of suspected dengue cases had doubled in the past two weeks with many patients arriving after facing long waits in government hospitals.
However, private treatment is costly as diagnostic labs in Ichhra and other areas charge around Rs3,000 per test that jis unaffordable for many citizens.
Long queues in labs are becoming common. Many laboratories run out of test kits during the day.
On the other hand, preventive measures in Lahore's neighbourhoods remain inconsistent. In Shahdara, Kot Lakhpat and Allama Iqbal Town, pools of stagnant water serve as mosquito breeding sites. Residents complain that fumigation teams visit the areas irregularly, stay briefly and fail to cover entire localities.
Many families buy anti-mosquito sprays themselves but fear that this will not be enough if the outbreak worsens.
Health authorities continue to claim that the situation is under control and directives have been issued to maintain dengue counters in hospitals.
Doctors warn that the official figures may partially represent the situation as cases handled in private medical facilities are rarely integrated into government data.
They said the hospital dengue counters should be staffed adequately, testing kept affordable and fumigation campaigns intensified to prevent the ailment from spreading.
Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza visited Multan Road, Sabzazar and Babu Sabu to monitor the anti-dengue campaign. He inspected cleanliness arrangements and administrative matters in detail.
The DC also directed officials to continue removing banners, posters, and other forms of visual pollution, while the regulation wing was tasked with launching indiscriminate operations to eliminate encroachments.
He also ordered the immediate removal of nomadic huts and cattle sheds from residential areas.
WASA officials were instructed to ensure prompt cleaning of the Sabzazar L Block drain, improve sewerage and water supply systems, and replace broken manhole covers.
The DC reviewed the performance of anti-dengue teams in Sabzazar. He inspected field operations and was briefed on the elimination of larvae, house spraying, and sticker placement on affected houses as per standard operating procedures.
He directed the teams to intensify surveillance, ensure daily monitoring of dengue hotspots, and expand the public awareness drive. He said no negligence would be tolerated in the anti-dengue campaign.The DC urged citizens to keep their homes and surroundings clean, cooperate with anti-dengue teams, and report the presence of larvae.
With additional input from APP