Medics step in amid Chikungunya surge

PESHAWAR:

Acting on the directives of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Director General Health Services, the District Health Office (DHO) Peshawar, in collaboration with Rotary International, organized a free medical camp in Union Council Safaid Dheri. The initiative was launched in response to the recent surge in vector-borne diseases in the area, including chikungunya.

More than 650 patients were examined and treated by teams of male and female doctors. Individuals showing symptoms were screened and tested, while paramedical staff administered vaccines to children against various preventable diseases.

The camp was supervised by Dr Atif, Deputy DHO Peshawar; Dr Anthony, Public Health Coordinator; and Dr Masoor, Deputy Director Public Health. The district's entomologist and IDSR focal person also held awareness sessions emphasizing community participation in vector control during the high-risk season.

Field teams inspected households in the most affected areas, identified mosquito larvae, and educated residents on safe water storage and larval elimination methods.

On Saturday, Health Department declared Sufaid Dheri village on the outskirts of Peshawar an outbreak zone for chikungunya after laboratory confirmation of 16 cases, prompting swift containment measures across the locality.

According to Secretary Health Shahidullah, the outbreak surfaced earlier this week when residents reported symptoms of high fever, joint pain, and fatigue, raising alarms of a potential viral spread.

A rapid response team collected 21 samples from suspected patients, which were tested at the K-P Public Health Reference Laboratory. "Sixteen samples returned positive, confirming the presence of chikungunya in the community," the secretary said.

Following confirmation, the Directorate General Health Services (DGHS) issued an emergency advisory to the District Health Officer (DHO) Peshawar, directing immediate response actions.