IT is unfortunate that parts of the country, particularly Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are currently suffering from various vector-borne diseases, specifically chikungunya, malaria and dengue. A number of deaths have been reported while those infected run into the thousands. Chikungunya struck Sindh for the first time in a major way last year; this year, the situation is even worse. Though chikungunya is not lethal, it causes severe pain, especially in the joints, and thus has a debilitating effect on a person’s mobility and productivity. As reported in this paper on Saturday, Sindh health department officials say that so far this year, over 4,000 cases of the illness have emerged in the province, with Karachi reporting the highest number of patients (over 3,000) while Tharparkar has also been badly affected. Elsewhere in Sindh, malaria is claiming a large number of patients; officials say around 14,000 cases of the disease have been reported this year. Where dengue is concerned, the number of cases this year in Karachi has gone down. However the situation in KP is quite different. Over 20 dengue victims have died in the province, while the number of suspected patients is over 1,600. Reports indicate that coordination between government departments is weak in KP, while in Karachi insufficient fumigation of city areas is said to be a key reason fuelling the chikungunya outbreak.

There are various ways to control the spread of these mosquito-borne diseases; it should be stressed that maintaining a hygienic environment tops the list, as this eliminates the breeding grounds of mosquitoes and other insects. A few months ago, the Karachi mayor said on record that the insanitary conditions prevailing in the metropolis were responsible for the spread of chikungunya. Unfortunately, the provincial and local authorities have failed miserably in maintaining a hygienic environment in Karachi and other parts of Sindh. Overflowing gutters and heaps of garbage testify to this unfortunate reality. Cleaning up the mess, along with carrying out fumigation, is essential to control the spread of vector-borne diseases in Sindh, KP and other affected areas. Moreover, people need to be educated about how to keep their homes clean and remove stagnant water to prevent mosquito breeding grounds from emerging within homes. Failing to take these steps will only add to the gravity of the public health situation and may well lead to even more lethal and debilitating mosquito-borne illnesses.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2017