Three new dengue cases reported in Rawalpindi, take season’s tally to 70

RAWALPINDI: Three additional dengue patients were admitted to government hospitals in the city on Friday, bringing the total number of cases in the past two months to 70. Dr Jawad, the District Health Officer Preventive, reported that only nine patients are currently admitted in the hospital's dengue ward. The three new patients arrived from various parts of the city, including the city area, Union Council Qazian, and Asghar Mall.

In the last 24 hours, dengue serology reports of these patients confirmed they were suffering from the mosquito-borne disease. To combat the spread of dengue, the district has intensified its anti-dengue campaign in affected areas.

In October 2026, 37 dengue cases have been reported so far, while 27 cases were reported in September, and no cases were reported in August. Dr Jawad stated these figures during a meeting of the District Emergency and Response Committee for Dengue Control chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Fazail Mudassar. The committee is responsible for strengthening field surveillance and conducting a thorough review of the current dengue situation in Rawalpindi.

As of October 23, a total of 70 dengue cases have been confirmed in the district, a significantly lower number compared to previous years. However, a total of 5,446 suspected cases were identified during patient screening. Continuous indoor and outdoor surveillance activities are underway across the district to curb the spread of dengue and ensure timely detection and elimination of mosquito larvae. Over 5.683 million homes and approximately 1.963 million other locations have been inspected so far this year.

Upon detecting larvae during surveillance, anti-dengue measures are implemented at the respective locations to prevent mosquito breeding. Out of 14,247 planned response activities, 14,206 have been completed. The committee reviewed progress in response activities related to dengue larvae between October 12 and 23, and directed relevant departments to promptly finalize any pending actions.

The meeting also emphasized the need for effective coordination among all relevant departments and stressed that no negligence should be shown in surveillance or field activities. Citizens were urged to maintain proper cleanliness and cooperate with the administration by adopting preventive measures against dengue, such as ensuring water does not accumulate in homes, on rooftops, in flower pots, or any other locations.