Rawalpindi Becomes Dengue Hotspot

Rawalpindi has emerged as a dengue hotspot in Punjab province, with 22 confirmed cases reported in September, according to ARY News. This number far exceeds the second-highest count of 14 cases in Lahore. Chakwal, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan each reported three cases, while Attock, Gujranwala, and Muzaffargarh reported two cases each. Single cases were recorded in DG Khan, Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib, Okara, Pakpattan, and Sialkot.

The health department has taken proactive steps to address the outbreak, ensuring adequate medicine supplies in public hospitals. They have also released an advisory urging residents to maintain clean and dry surroundings to curb the spread of the disease. Authorities have called on the public to collaborate with health teams in containing the outbreak. To aid in treatment and address concerns, a dedicated helpline at 1033 has been established.

Dengue spreads through the bite of infected mosquitoes and presents symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and a distinct skin rash. As there is no specific treatment for the disease, prevention remains the most effective approach. This includes avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding sites.