RAWALPINDI: A patient from Mandra fell ill with the mosquito-borne disease on Monday and was brought to Holy Family Hospital, taking the tally to 12 in the current season.

As many as 110 suspected patients visited three government-run hospitals on Monday with fever, backache and other similar symptoms, and one of them was confirmed positive through dengue serology.

Holy Family Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz Butt told Dawn that the number of dengue patients was increasing at the hospital but they were being accommodated. He said patients with similar symptoms visiting the Outpatient Department and Emergency were recommended dengue tests.

However, he said there was only one dengue patient in the hospital so far. He said the 146-bed dengue ward had been prepared and all standard operating procedures were being followed.

He said fewer patients had reported during the current season compared to last year, attributing it to the Clean Punjab campaign in the province, particularly in the garrison city.

Dr Sharjeel Sheikh, Benazir Bhutto Hospital Medical Superintendent, told Dawn that no confirmed dengue patient had been reported at the hospital so far. He said 42 beds had been allocated for the dengue ward and that fewer patients had reported this year.

He said the cleanliness drive under Suthra Punjab might be the reason, as no stagnant water had accumulated on roads and streets this year and solid waste had been managed properly.

District Health Officer Preventive Dr Jawad Zahid told Dawn that as many as 12 dengue patients had been reported during the current dengue season.

However, he said the spread of the dengue virus was under control. Last year, more than 500 patients were reported in the garrison city, while this year only 12 patients had been reported. He said an anti-dengue campaign had been launched in the garrison city and 1,400 teams had been formed for indoor and outdoor surveillance.

He said the highest number of larvae had been detected in Misrial Road, Afshan Colony and Allama Iqbal Colony in Rawalpindi Cantonment, while significant larval detection areas included Naseerabad, Morgah, Dhama Syedan, Piwadhai, Dhamyal, Hazara Colony, Pindora, Dhoke Mangtal, Dhoke Ratta and Chak Jalaldin.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2026