ISLAMABAD: Islamabad has reported at least nine cases of dengue virus during the ongoing season, with the authorities concerned told to remain on their toes in light of the forthcoming monsoon rains during which the threat multiplies.

As per a statement, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed the CDA chairman, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, to ensure the implementation of SOPs to prevent the spread of dengue and ensure the immediate drainage of water from low-lying areas.

According to the statement, the minister said the anti-dengue plan should be implemented in letter and spirit, as any negligence in this regard would not be tolerated. He also directed that all hospitals and laboratories in the city be contacted for data on dengue cases and to ensure a unified response.

CDA Chairman Randhawa briefed the minister that a working group was being established to prevent the spread of dengue in the border areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. He said the Islamabad and Rawalpindi administrations would work as a single team to carry out dengue prevention measures during the current season. As per the plan, joint operations would be carried out in graveyards, junkyards, greenbelts and potential dengue breeding places located in the border areas of the two cities.

Minister tells officials to collect dengue data from all hospitals, labs for coordinated response

Earlier this year, Islamabad’s District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia warned that the current season posed an increased risk of dengue transmission due to heavy rainfall and potential flooding, creating additional breeding sites for mosquitoes. “Therefore, it is of utmost importance to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions throughout the year to prevent the spread of dengue fever,” he had said.

In Islamabad dengue season usually starts in March. Pakistan has experienced many outbreaks since 1994, with major outbreaks reported in 2005, 2011 and 2019. Around 6,000 cases of dengue with 52 deaths were reported from Karachi in 2005; over 21,000 cases with 350 deaths were reported from Lahore in 2011 and around 50,000 cases with 79 deaths were reported in 2019 from across the country.

It is estimated that there are over 100-400 million cases of dengue worldwide each year and 3.8 billion people living in dengue-endemic countries, most of which are in Asia, Africa and the Americas. The largest number of dengue cases reported was in 2023 with the WHO Region of the Americas reporting 4.5 million cases and 2,300 deaths.

The most common symptoms of dengue are high-grade fever accompanied by joint and muscular aches. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for dengue but early detection and proper medical care can lower the chances of death. Otherwise, the disease may turn into a life-threatening haemorrhagic fever, which may lead to bleeding and dangerously low blood pressure, in some cases. According to experts, rapid and unplanned urbanisation, lack of sanitation, and climate change are contributing to a surge in dengue infections.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2024