GWADAR / QUETTA: The Teaching Hospital Turbat conducted 1,007 dengue tests during October, of which 59 patients tested positive for the virus.

According to the hospital administration, all affected patients received timely medical care.

Medical Superintendent Dr Waheed Buledi said in a briefing that most of the infected individuals had recently travelled to Karachi and other cities where dengue cases had already been reported.

He added that the hospital’s medical team worked diligently to ensure proper treatment and that the majority of patients have since recovered.

Dr Buledi urged the public to take preventive measures against dengue by maintaining cleanliness in and around their homes, avoiding stagnant water, and using mosquito nets or repellents.

12-day measles, rubella vaccination campaign begins on 17th

He emphasised that prevention remains the most effective safeguard against dengue and other infectious diseases, adding that public cooperation is vital to eliminate such health threats.

Vaccination drive

Provincial Coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Balochistan Dr Aftab Kakar announced on Tuesday that a 12-day nationwide measles and rubella vaccination campaign will be launched from Nov 17 to 29 across all 36 districts of Balochistan, in coordination with the rest of the country.

He urged parents to ensure that children aged between six months and five years receive the vaccine to strengthen their immunity and protect them from these potentially fatal diseases.

Dr Kakar said that around 1,700 measles cases have been reported in Balochistan so far this year, with 23 confirmed deaths. However, due to the absence of an effective data collection system, the actual number of cases and fatalities is believed to be much higher.

Speaking at a seminar on the role of media in public awareness, held at the Quetta Press Club, Dr Kakar warned that measles is spreading rapidly across the country, including Balochistan, and is more contagious than Covid-19, as a single infected person can transmit it to 8-10 others.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2025