RAWALPINDI: As many as nine dengue patients landed at the Holy Family Hospital, taking the season’s tally to 46 - 25 in Rawalpindi and 21 in Murree.

Seven patients were admitted in hospitals, including six in the HFH.

By comparison, 34 patients had reported to hospitals by August last year. In 2023, the number was 52, while in 2022, as many as 28 patients were reported in the corresponding period.

Though no significant number of patients reported in private and public hospitals, Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Umer said hospitals were ready to handle any situation and dengue counters had been activated at HFH, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital.

“We have arranged 78 beds for male and female patients in HFH. We made arrangements to accommodate 100 patients in each ward in BBH and RTH,” he said.

Though the district administration has claimed that the dengue virus will not spread like the previous years due to efforts started from January, a health expert believed that there were some loopholes in the campaign which resulted in an increase dengue cases.

He said there were two main problems in the city and cantonment areas regarding dengue virus. “One is that the city is adjacent to Islamabad having vast green areas and mostly patients arrived in government hospitals from these border areas,” he said.

The second reason was the continuous wet weather during which rainwater accumulated in under-construction buildings and low-lying areas.

On the other hand, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema said that the district administration was actively engaged in implementing the cleanliness campaign and taking anti-dengue measures.

He said that all assistant commissioners were diligently executing a coordinated strategy on multiple fronts. Daily sweeping, larva surveillance, fogging and door-to-door visits are being conducted at the Union Council level to prevent any possible outbreak of dengue.

“Assistant commissioners are monitoring these activities in the field along with teams from the local health department, municipal corporation and Wasa. Immediate garbage removal, performance monitoring of sanitation staff and cleanliness at public places are being ensured,” he said.

He said officials demonstrating good performance will be appreciated, while negligence will result in disciplinary action.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2025