RAWALPINDI: The city’s three government-run hospitals are grappling with a continuous influx of dengue patients, as 32 new cases were reported on Sunday, pushing the total number of dengue cases this season to 374.

The alarming rise in cases in September has prompted urgent measures by the Punjab government to prevent further spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

A large number of dengue patients were reported in Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital.

On Sunday alone, 237 patients were admitted to these hospitals. Among them, 32 tested positive for dengue fever, with 20 dengue patients landing in Holy Family Hospital, 34 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital and 14 at the District Headquarters Hospital.

All the patients in these government-run hospitals arrived from 70 union councils of the city and 20 wards of Rawalpindi and the Chaklala Cantonment Board.

A senior doctor at Benazir Bhutto Hospital reported that the hospital currently had 334 patients admitted and could accommodate over 400 at a time. Six dengue patients were discharged on Sunday after receiving treatment.

The doctor expressed cautious optimism that the number of cases might decrease in the coming month, though the current period remains critical.

“The district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, is working day and night to clear the city and cantonment from the dengue virus,” said a senior official of the district administration.

He said that a third-party audit conducted by the Agriculture and Local Government departments is ongoing to evaluate the effectiveness of the anti-dengue measures and the performance of sanitary patrols.

Chak Jalaldin and Kotha Kalan union councils of the garrison city have been designated as sensitive areas due to the high number of cases. However, the majority of patients have been reported from Gulistan Colony, Morgah, Airport Housing Society and New Afzal Town near Gulraiz.

To address the outbreak, case response activities are scheduled for 12 Rabiul Awal. However, it has been decided that no anti-dengue activities will be conducted along the routes of Eid Milad processions in the city and cantonment areas.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2024