ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a dengue warning to last from September 20 through December 5, citing conditions created by recent monsoon rains and widespread flooding, which have heightened the risk of mosquito‑borne disease transmission.
According to PMD’s Dengue Alert‑1, stagnation of flood water, high temperatures between 26‑29°C over multiple weeks, and relative humidity exceeding 60% are contributing to a “high risk of severe dengue outbreak,” especially in cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, and Multan.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has also sounded alarms in flood‑affected areas, calling on health departments and local authorities to take immediate preventive steps. These include clearing stagnant water, fumigating, spraying larvicides, and raising public awareness.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has echoed the warning, urging the public to employ mosquito nets, repellents, and proper sanitation, particularly in shelters and flood camps.
Flood‑affected provinces in Punjab and Sindh continue to suffer from submerged roads and villages, where drainage is blocked and standing water remains after rivers overflowed reservoirs. These conditions are seen as especially conducive to mosquito breeding.
Authorities emphasize that early warning signs like fever, joint pain, and rashes should prompt immediate medical consultation. Hospitals and dengue control centers are being placed on high alert in major cities to handle a possible surge in patients.
