Health officials report that 53 new dengue cases have brought the total number of infections this year in the province up to 904.
An official from Dawn said: “This new outbreak of infection has confused authorities who are afraid violent outbreaks will occur, particularly in Peshawar, which reported 244 cases – the most in the province.”
He stated that currently, 17 dengue cases were being treated in hospitals. However, most of these patients preferred to be treated at clinics in their neighborhoods, where non-qualified doctors usually run.
Peshawar has surpassed the 2017 record of 20,000 cases with 60 fatalities, which overwhelmed hospitals. Peshawar recorded 192 dengue cases in September, most of which were from areas affected by 2017’s outbreaks.
Other officials confirmed that 761 of the 904 dengue-related cases were only diagnosed in September.
The province currently has 357 cases of active infection, and 547 have been released from hospital after recovering from the disease.
Officials said that hospitals have admitted 127 patients, but due to increased cases, more will need hospitalization.
Only two deaths from dengue have been reported in the province. However, the elderly and those with other illnesses must stay home in the evenings to avoid mosquito bites.
Officials said that Peshawar, Abbottabad, and Hangu districts in Mansehra, Nowshera, and Nowshera were hubs for infection, as they recorded 114, 95, 80, and 79 infections.
The disease is widespread and has been reported in 25 districts. This shows that the disease is prevalent, particularly after recent rains, which have left pools of stagnant water that can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Officials said the Health Department had been testing, screening, and treating dengue-infected people. However, mosquitoes continued to multiply as people stored water outside.
Residents of the endemic regions had asked the government for a load-shedding schedule to have water. But their pleas were ignored, and the people began to stockpile water daily.
Officials said the government created the Dengue Action Plan each year, focusing on collaboration between all departments. However, the public had to stockpile water because they did not know when the power would be cut.
The tehsil committees were also credited with the primary source of mosquito production.
Officials said that dengue virus is present in the province and that mosquitoes are both carriers and transmitters.
The authorities said that over a dozen Peshawar areas reported dengue cases. They sprayed insecticides in those locations and held walks and public meetings to increase awareness. However, the mosquitoes were still a problem, mostly due to the power outages.
In such conditions, it is nearly impossible to escape mosquitoes. A health official told Dawn that the government must implement its Dengue Action Plan 2024 before it snowballs and becomes a serious health issue
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