THE slightest change in temperature is a harbinger of a disease to come. Hence, in the post-monsoon season, when the temperature is 26°C to 29°C and humidity can rise to 60pc, the hazard of dengue, and other vector-borne illnesses, looms large. In fact, the Met Office has sounded the alarm about the possible outbreak of dengue in October, particularly in the country’s densely populated urban centres. The warning was issued after Rawalpindi logged 110 dengue cases in a single day. While figures for the total number of cases may vary, according to an official, although the number of dengue patients this year is slightly lower than the tally in September 2022 and 2023, the virus seems to have taken on a more severe form; experts fear that it is a new variant with most patients suffering from dengue hemorrhagic fever. To make matters worse, data also shows that people who had been exposed to dengue fever in the past were more susceptible to the new variant. This means that, despite several years of dengue seasons, the health authorities have failed to institute timely and coordinated anti-dengue campaigns to curb spread, especially in a cash-strapped scenario when such an eruption will overwhelm a feeble health infrastructure.

In the past, Punjab has handled dengue waves with success. Therefore, there is no reason for the situation to get out of hand. The authorities need to emerge from their stupor so that the provinces can benefit from extensive fumigation drives. It is also time for health experts to set proven measures in motion to prevent the Aedes aegypti mosquito from taking hold again. For this, hygienic and ventilated environments in cities and small towns are mandatory as is routine spraying and dengue testing. All preventive action must move at the same speed as mosquito breeding, and existing practices need to be enhanced with international procedures because dengue can take lives.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2024