KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday issued a warning about a potential dengue outbreak in 10 major cities across the country by October. According to the Met Office, the cities expected to be affected include Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Larkana, and Multan.
Dengue fever, which has been spreading since mid-September, may also occur in areas affected by rains following the monsoon season. The PMD highlighted that the fever has severely impacted the health of people nationwide, with a significant increase in dengue virus cases observed from September 20 to December 5 over the past decade. The department noted that the vector-borne disease becomes active when the temperature is between 26°C to 29°C and the humidity level is close to 60%.
The Met Office has called for all stakeholders to take proactive measures to prevent the spread of dengue. This includes maintaining clean and dry surroundings to eliminate potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The Health Department has already issued an advisory urging the public to take necessary precautions.
In recent weeks, Punjab, in particular, has seen a surge in dengue cases, with hundreds of new infections reported weekly. The PMD’s warning underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for coordinated efforts to combat the spread of the virus as the country braces for a potential outbreak in the coming month.
