• Contrary to official figures of 33 deaths from dengue and malaria, data from four major hospitals in Karachi and Hyderabad paint a much grimmer picture
• 83 deaths occurred at hospitals in Karachi
• Prompt diagnosis and treatment are recommended to prevent complications and mortality
KARACHI: As many as 103 people died from mosquitoborne diseases across Sindh during 2025, with 23 of them losing their lives at a Karachi hospital due to malaria, according to data gathered from three hospitals in Karachi and one in Hyderabad.
However, the figure contradicts the provincial health department’s tally, which puts the death toll from dengue and malaria at 33.
Statistics gathered from the four hospitals — Indus Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital & Research Centre (SIDH&RC) and Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad/Jamshoro (LUH) — revealed that at least 103 people lost their lives to mosquito-borne infections, including malaria. The data showed that 83 of them, including children, reported at hospitals in Karachi.
A significant number of these cases were reported from August to November last year.
The Indus Hospital saw a total of 8,883 dengue cases in 2025 with 40 deaths. Sources told Dawn that 18 of the patients who were brought in critical condition died at the hospital’s emergency department.
In addition, a total of 2,719 malaria patients also reported at the facility, which saw 23 deaths from the parasitic disease. Six of these patients died at the hospital’s emergency department.
The SIDH&RC saw a total of 941 cases of mosquito-borne illnesses; dengue 651 and malaria 290. The hospital had 14 deaths from dengue fever but no death from malaria.
While comprehensive data couldn’t be gathered from the AKUH, sources said that at least six patients died of dengue between Jan and October last year.
Sources at the LUH disclosed that 25 patients died of dengue fever at the hospital last year, most of whom were admitted between Sept and Nov.
However, according to the official data, a total of 20,502 dengue fever cases were reported in the province with 33 deaths; over 90 per cent of these cases were reported in Karachi (10,375 cases with 10 deaths) and Hyderabad (9,559 cases with 23 deaths).
It also showed that a total of 283,140 malaria cases were reported in the province with no death.
The most affected division was Hyderabad 128,571 followed by Larkana (69,543) Shaheed Benazirabad 31,685, Mirpurkhas 25,671, Sukkur 24,114 and Karachi (3,556).
Health dept’s response
The health department spokesperson didn’t respond to messages seeking clarification on the large disparity existing between the official figures and the data directly collected from the four hospitals.
Unaccounted deaths
Sources at these hospitals also said that while the government lacked a system to transparently collect data, at least from hospitals and labs operating in the province, a large number of patients reported to general physicians running small clinics and many of them died at home, indicating that the scale of the public health crisis experienced last year was much bigger and serious than what was reflected, even in the news stories flashed in the media.
“There was a big surge in dengue cases, in particular, and we saw considerable patients co-infected with both dengue and malaria. The cases continued to trickle even till December although previously we had seen the seasonal surge subside by the end of the year,” recalled Dr Samreen Sarfaraz, senior infectious diseases expert at the Indus Hospital.
Responding to a question about the high number of mosquito-borne mortalities at the hospital, she explained that those patients presented with severe disease.
“Dengue patients who died had been admitted in a state shock. They had bleeding manifestations or organ dysfunction. Many patients had a severe course within a few days of abrupt onset of fever.
“In case of malaria, patients who died usually had very high parasitic loads of falciparum (a blood parasite that causes the most severe form of malaria) or mixed malaria and presented with severe anaemia, mental obtundation (a state characterised by reduced level of consciousness and slowed response to stimulation), renal shut down, shock and /or respiratory distress.”
She further stated that while there was an effective anti-malarial medicine, prompt diagnosis and treatment was needed to prevent complications and mortality as parasitic load increased rapidly when the patient was left untreated.
“(Malaria) Patients who died usually had high parasitic loads underscoring the need for early case detection and prompt treatment.”
The expert emphasised the need for draining out stagnated water, which provided a breeding ground for these insects.
“In order to curb these common and serious vector borne infections, we need to take effective mosquito control measures both at personal and government level. Using bed nets, mosquito repellents along with draining all stagnating water puddles is crucial.”
About the danger signs people needed to be aware of, Dr Sarfaraz said: “Sudden high grade fever with body aches and vomiting might be due to dengue or malaria. Seeking care from a qualified health care provider promptly for early diagnosis and management saves lives and prevents complications.”
Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2026
