• Secretary fears sudden spike in dengue cases during ongoing month
• Pindi authorities worry they will have to start fumigation drive from scratch due to constant rainfall

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: As dengue cases in Rawalpindi and Islamabad report a steady spike due to continuous monsoon spells, the authorities in the twin cities are afraid that there are chances of a sudden increase in the cases in September due to the conducive conditions provided by rainfall.

During the ongoing season, Islamabad reported over 30 cases of the virus whereas Rawalpindi reported more than 80 cases as anti-dengue campaigns, particularly in the ‘border areas’ of the twin cities, continue in full swing.

According to Federal Health Secretary Nadeem Mehbub, the health department has been directed to eradicate the breeding grounds of the dengue larvae and increase surveillance in the federal territory.

The prolonged rain spells have increased the chances of a sudden increase in dengue cases, he said, adding that arrangements were already in place to stop the spread of the virus.

Ministry of National Health Services Spokesperson Sajid Shah, while talking to Dawn, said that it was necessary to eradicate dengue hotspots. “…surveillance teams have been deputed in urban and rural areas. 200 lady health workers have also been deputed to visit houses…,” he said.

The spokesperson urged the masses to cooperate with the surveillance teams and make arrangements to ensure that there was no stagnant water in their houses as it could become the breeding ground for dengue larvae.

Wary of rain

Meanwhile, the authorities in Rawalpindi are worried that the nonstop rainfall will impact the fumigation drive in the city to kill the dengue larvae and that they will have to start over the entire campaign.

“The recent rain washed away the effects of anti-dengue spray in highly sensitive union councils in the city and the officials of the health authority will have to restart the [drive]…in these areas,” District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Asif Arbab Niazi told Dawn.

According to Mr Niazi, rain created puddles in many areas of the city, especially in parks and greenbelts, which provide ideal breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes.

“Though the number of patients from Rawalpindi is increasing, so far no death has been reported in any private or public hospital,” he said.

On Monday, five more patients were admitted to government hospitals. The dengue patients mostly arrived from cantonment areas.

Pakistan has experienced many outbreaks of dengue 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, with 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. Dengue cases are likely to increase and expand geographically due to climate change and urbanisation.

It is worth mentioning that the dengue virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. 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 mortality. Otherwise, the disease may turn into a life-threatening haemorrhagic fever, which may lead to bleeding and dangerously low blood pressure. Rapid and unplanned urbanisation, lack of sanitation and climate change are all contributing to a surge in dengue infections.

Rain forecast

A light rain in the afternoon turned the weather pleasant in the garrison city, with most rain expected today. According to the Met office, “Monsoon currents from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are penetrating upper and central parts of the country and likely to strengthen during (night). A westerly wave is also affecting upper parts of the country.”

The official said that rain-wind/thundershower was likely in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Potohar region, and central Punjab.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2024