Rawalpindi Declares Emergency Amidst Rising Dengue Cases

Rawalpindi has announced a district-wide emergency following a sharp rise in dengue cases, emphasizing urgent control measures. The WHO voices global concerns over rising dengue prevalence, urging coordinated action. The city deploys emergency counters and mobile teams to combat the outbreak, highlighting the urgency of this public health crisis.

In response to a dramatic increase in dengue cases, Rawalpindi has declared a district-wide emergency. The Deputy Commissioner has unveiled urgent initiatives to counter the outbreak, such as setting up emergency dengue counters throughout the district. Mobile teams are diligently working to curb the spread, particularly tackling the newly identified, more severe variant, as reported by ARY News.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over the rising global rates of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called for an immediate and coordinated international response to this surging public health issue. He stressed the concerning trend of dengue cases nearly doubling every year since 2021. In the first eight months of 2024 alone, over 12.3 million cases were reported globally, leading to more than 7,900 fatalities—almost double the total figures reported for the entire year of 2023, according to ARY News.

With symptoms ranging from high fever to severe body aches, dengue fever's ability to present as asymptomatic in a significant number of cases complicates tracking and management efforts. The WHO estimates the annual global incidence of the disease to be between 100 million and 400 million infections, underscoring the significant health challenges posed by this mosquito-borne illness.

Rawalpindi's rapid and comprehensive actions signify the gravity of the situation, as local officials mobilize resources to effectively tackle the outbreak. Setting up emergency dengue counters and deploying mobile teams are integral measures aiming to prevent further spread, as noted by ARY News. The WHO's call for international collaboration across borders and sectors is vital to confront the hurdles posed by dengue amid evolving environmental and health conditions.

Coordinated global efforts are paramount to mitigating the impact of mosquito-borne diseases worldwide. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)