ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health’s Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division on Friday issued an advisory regarding prevention and control of dengue virus across the country.

The objective of the advisory is to sensitise human and animal health care authorities to further strengthen and improve the level of preparedness in prevention and control of the disease.

According to the advisory, dengue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes called Genus Aedes. It is endemic in almost all geographical regions of Pakistan and there are substantial evidences that its multiple serotypes are circulating in different areas of the country.

Despite patchy surveillance, a total of 53,498 cases with 95 deaths due to dengue fever were reported in 2019 while 6,016 cases were reported in 2020, and 3,795 cases were reported up to September 2021.

It is imperative to work on prevention while staying vigilant for detection of cases and ensuring preparedness to launch response activities for curtailing the transmission of the disease.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2021