• Four rural, urban neighbourhoods in capital account for 60pc cases
• 87 more patients reported in Rawalpindi, two in critical condition

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: Only four neighbourhoods – G-13, H-13, Koral and Tarlai – in the Islamabad Capital Territory account for 60pc of the total 2,100 dengue cases reported in the federal territory during the ongoing season, with rural areas accounting for a majority of the dengue patients.

Documents showed that 1,313 cases have been reported in rural areas and 796 cases in the urban areas during the current season, which typically starts in March and ends in November. On Tuesday, 59 cases were reported, out of which 41 were from the rural areas and 18 cases were reported from the urban areas.

According to data, 630 cases have been reported in Koral, 216 in Tarlai and 181 cases have been reported in Rawat during the ongoing season. In urban areas, 224 cases were reported in Sector H-13 and 68 cases in Sector G-13.

In an advisory issued by the health office, District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia urged people to take precautionary measures to contain the spread of dengue larvae.

“Pay special attention to areas where water tends to accumulate, such as roof gutters, drains, and outdoor containers. Properly dispose of solid waste promptly and in designated waste disposal areas. Avoid leaving trash or garbage exposed as they can accumulate water and serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” the advisory said, urging people to use mosquito repellents on exposed skin surfaces, especially during outdoor activities. It further advised people to utilise bed nets and protective clothing while sleeping particularly if people live in an area with a high mosquito population.

“When spending time outdoors, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to minimise skin exposure to mosquito bites. Maintain a surveillance routine around your house to detect and address potential mosquito breeding sites promptly,” it stated.

87 cases in Rawalpindi

In Rawalpindi where a health emergency in light of dengue has been imposed, 87 patients tested positive on Tuesday, with two said to be in critical condition.

As many as 2,947 people contracted dengue during the current season, with six deaths reported due to the mosquito-borne virus. According to officials, 520 patients are in hospitals, and out of them, 331 are confirmed dengue patients.

As many as 43 dengue patients are in Holy Family Hospital (HFH), 76 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), 48 in Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital, 42 in Quaid-i-Azam Hospital, and 39 in Fauji Foundation Hospital, while the remaining patients are getting treatment in tehsil headquarters hospitals and private hospitals.

Over the last month, 1,516 cases were reported in Potohar Town, 867 in cantonment areas, 416 in Rawal Town, and the remaining in five tehsils of the Pindi district and private housing schemes on the outskirts of the city.

A senior health official said the number of patients increased in the district from September 9 and peaked on October 6. He said in the next two weeks, the number of dengue patients would reduce due to a decrease in temperature. On the other hand, the officials said that the health department teams were continuing indoor and outdoor operations to curb the rise in dengue cases. On Tuesday, more than 15,236 houses were checked in Rawalpindi, and dengue larvae were found in 621 houses. Similarly, more than 4,321 outdoor spots were checked in dengue hotspots, and dengue larvae were found in 45 spots.

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 in Karachi in 2005; over 21,000 cases with 350 deaths were reported in 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 2300 deaths. Dengue cases are likely to increase and expand geographically due to climate change and urbanisation.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2024