Dengue risk rises across twin cities

Stagnant water sparks health concerns; high-risk zones identified after recent rains

RAWALPINDI:

Medical experts have warned that the recent spell of torrential rains poses a serious risk for the rapid spread and breeding of dengue mosquitoes and larvae, prompting authorities to launch an early anti-dengue campaign across the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Health specialists cautioned that stagnant rainwater left behind after the downpours will provide ideal breeding grounds for dengue larvae, accelerating their growth.

In response, health departments in both cities have initiated pre-emptive measures, with joint teams set to begin coordinated search operations, chemical spraying, and monitoring in border areas from next week. Preliminary joint inspections in these areas have already commenced.

Several locations have been identified as high-risk hotspots for dengue transmission, including IJP Road, the Hajj Training Camp area, Bhata Chowk, Islamabad Expressway, and the Pirwadhai–Peshawar Morr corridor.

Officials noted that in previous years, lack of coordination led to negligence in these border areas, with each city's teams deferring responsibility to the other. This year, however, joint actions will ensure comprehensive coverage and enforcement.

The Rawalpindi Health Department has begun recruiting up to 3,000 daily-wage female workers for a three-month period to support the campaign. Anti-dengue kits, spraying equipment, and chemicals have been supplied from the Directorate General Health Office in Lahore, and initial training sessions have already been completed.

Addressing a meeting of health officials, the DC stressed that the early launch of the campaign aims to prevent larvae from developing altogether. He directed authorities to ensure thorough cleanliness in border areas, with particular focus on tyre shops, junkyards, under-construction multi-storey buildings, basements, and rooftop water tanks.

The district has been divided into three zones, seven sectors, and 34 clusters, with in-charges instructed to intensify operations. Meanwhile, the Health Department has declared all areas reporting dengue cases over the past five years as high-risk hotspots to ensure targeted and sustained intervention.