Dengue Cases Surge in Islamabad: A Health Crisis Amidst Climate Challenges

Islamabad faces a health crisis as dengue cases soar from 111 to over 1400 within a month. Government officials are on high alert following increased rainfall linked to the outbreak. Unqualified neighborhood clinics struggle to provide proper care, while WHO stresses vector control to combat the endemic disease.

Islamabad is grappling with a health emergency as dengue fever cases have surged from 111 to over 1400 in less than a month, Ary News reports. This alarming rise has prompted government officials across Pakistan to remain vigilant, with the Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations issuing an urgent advisory regarding the elevated risk of dengue spread due to recent heavy rainfall.

The Dawn highlights the troubling situation where patients in some regions, rather than seeking hospital care, are opting for treatment at neighborhood clinics often managed by unqualified practitioners. Cities like Islamabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Mansehra, and Nowshera have emerged as focal points of the outbreak. Meanwhile, Pakistan's extreme August rainfall, the second highest on record, has exacerbated the conditions conducive to mosquito breeding, as explained by the Meteorological Department.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) underscores the endemic nature of dengue in Pakistan, aggravated by environmental conditions such as high temperatures and humidity. The persistent issue is worsened by frequent flooding, leading to stagnant water that serves as breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the vector of dengue. WHO recommends strategies like vector control, including regular cleaning and chlorination of water containers, to curb the spread. As Pakistan also battles a polio outbreak and climate-related challenges, addressing the dengue crisis becomes ever more crucial, reports ANI.

(With inputs from agencies.)