Pakistan says next two weeks ‘critical’ for dengue infections amid surge in cases

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday warned that the next two weeks will be “critical” amid a surge in dengue infections in the country, as Pakistan grapples with the disease’s outbreak while health institutions report hundreds of cases daily.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, with an estimated 100–400 million infections occurring each year worldwide, as per the World Health Organization (WHO). 
Mosquitoes carrying dengue virus are mostly found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide.
While many dengue infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, the virus can occasionally cause more severe cases and even death.
Over 4,500 dengue cases have been reported in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, around 1,600 in Sindh, 2,276 in Islamabad and 3,220 cases of the infection in the adjoining city of Rawalpindi this year, according to official data.
“The next two weeks are still critical as prevailing atmospheric factors are favoring the conducive environment for dengue,” Dr. Zaheer Ahmed Babar, a director at the PMD, told Arab News. 
Public and private hospitals have been receiving hundreds of patients daily suffering from cold, fever and body aches who are later diagnosed with dengue virus. Governments have designated special wards in hospitals and clinics for dengue patients.
Dr. Babar advised authorities to take pre-emptive measures to address the prevailing dengue outbreak in the country.
Separately, the PMD issued an advisory in which it said the next two weeks were critical but said dengue virus cases were expected to see a decline in November due to the current meteorological conditions and atmospheric trends in the country. 
Sajid Hussain Shah, a spokesperson for the federal health ministry, said the government is “fully vigilant” in its attempts to curb dengue cases through awareness campaigns and measures such as fumigation in affected areas. 
“The dengue cases are rising indeed but the disease is no more fatal as it was in the past,” he said.
The Pakistan Medical Association has expressed concerns over the rising number of dengue cases across the country, suggesting the government initiate preventive measures to curb it.
“Dengue is a preventable disease but unfortunately it has been spreading across Pakistan rapidly due to negligence of the authorities,” Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, PMA secretary-general, told Arab News. 
“Local authorities should focus on fumigation and sanitation of their respective areas to curb growth of the larva.”
He said early identification of the disease and efficient clinical management of dengue patients could reduce fatalities to less than one percent. 
“It is unfortunate to say that Pakistan shares the highest burden of major vector-borne diseases, including dengue, that could be reduced to a significant extent by focusing on primary health care and awareness,” Shoro said.