No winter respite from dengue
The prevalence of dengue fever in Punjab remains high despite a decline in temperatures with the onset of winter.
According to health experts, Lahore is witnessing an unexpected rise in infections with 693 confirmed cases already documented and 15 new patients emerging in the past 24 hours,
The increase in dengue cases in the metropolis contradicts expectations for this time of year.
Reports from across the city reveal that several high risk localities, particularly in the cantonment area, Gulberg, Samanabad, Data Ganj Baksh Town and Iqbal Town, are witnessing mosquito breeding, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the anti-dengue measures.
Experts say that as early winter usually suppresses dengue mosquitoes, the persistence of breeding hotspots signals a dangerous situation.
Hospitals across the city, especially private facilities, have recorded a surge in admission of patients with symptoms of dengue fever.
Private clinics have also reported that they are receiving more suspected dengue patients than they did during the peak monsoon months, showing an unusual trend.
Doctors warn that many patients are contacting them late due to misdiagnosis at small clinics or self-medication at home, increasing the risk of complications such as severe dehydration and platelet decline.
The growing footfall has also placed pressure on emergency rooms, with some private hospitals allocating additional beds for vector-borne infections.
The provincial minister concerned,Khawaja Imran Nazir, has repeatedly stated that surveillance teams have been instructed to carry out larva eradication round the clock. conduct house inspections and geo-tag every hotspot.
However, field workers indicate shortage of equipment, inconsistent spraying schedules and delays caused by limited fuel allotments. Several union councils of the city reportedly received fogging teams only once in the past month, with no follow-up rounds – a gap that specialists say allows the aedes aegypti larvae to complete their development cycle even in cooler weather.
According to the experts, the persistence of breeding sites in winter is linked to Lahore's urban infrastructure: rooftop tanks, underground water reservoirs, construction sites, open drains and stagnant water trapped inside residential courtyards providing warm, insulated environments where mosquito eggs and larvae can survive.
In some under-construction plazas and storage yards, containers filled with water are left unchecked for weeks.
Residents from various neighbourhoods alleged that complaints to authorities often resulted in a single visit followed by a long gap.
Pharmacies across Lahore are also struggling to keep up with the demand for mosquito repellents, sprays and dengue testing kits. Schools report low attendance among students with symptoms of the fever and workplaces are beginning to see clusters of employees falling ill.
Labourers at construction sites remain particularly vulnerable, working near stagnant water and debris that become ideal breeding spots.
Although awareness campaigns urge citizens to follow dengue prevention standard operating procedures (SOPs), people say they still lack clear guidance on which neighbourhoods are currently at highest risk.
Experts caution that fogging, despite its visibility, kills only adult mosquitoes and does little to stop the next wave of larvae from maturing. They emphasise the need for aggressive elimination of larvae at sources through door-to-door inspections, especially in multi-storey buildings, hostels, apartment blocks and commercial complexes where shared water systems are often neglected.
According to health department sources, the continuation of dengue transmission even as winter begins signals that the city is dealing with a more resilient cycle of mosquito breeding, raising alarm bells regarding a more dangerous dengue season than expected.