Pindi ramps up fight against dengue

World Dengue Day was observed in Rawalpindi to raise awareness about the vector-borne disease among citizens.

Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquito breeds in clean water and usually bites during daylight hours, particularly in the morning and around sunset. Smaller than common mosquitoes, it is distinguished by black-and-white stripes on its body and legs.

The history of dengue dates back centuries. The first documented symptoms of the disease were reported in Asia, Africa and North America in 1780. During the 1950s, outbreaks of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) first emerged in Southeast Asia.

In Pakistan, dengue outbreaks have occurred periodically since 1994, particularly during the monsoon season.

Symptoms generally appear four to ten days after a mosquito bite and include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, intense joint and muscle pain, skin rashes, nausea and vomiting.

Health experts advise eliminating stagnant water from homes, streets and neighborhoods, installing screens on doors and windows, wearing full-sleeved clothing and using mosquito repellents to prevent infection.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the District Health Authority, Rawalpindi has recorded a total of 32,912 dengue patients in hospitals from 2013 to June 15, 2026. The number of cases treated in private hospitals is believed to be higher.

For anti-dengue operations, 1,268 teams have been deployed and the district has been divided into five sectors, 13 zones and 33 clusters.

In 2025, a total of 2,765,061 houses were inspected and dengue larvae were found in 39,272 homes. Authorities checked 934,586 hotspots and detected larvae at 6,895 locations.

The district has recorded 210 dengue-related deaths. During the period, 796 FIRs were registered, 133 properties sealed, 625 challans issued and fines totaling Rs1.966 million imposed.