Karachi is witnessing a sharp rise in dengue virus cases, leading to increasing pressure on both public and private hospitals across the city. Health experts have declared the situation alarming, urging citizens to adopt precautionary measures. However, serious concerns are being raised that the Sindh Health Department is allegedly concealing the true scale of the outbreak, with official reports failing to reflect the actual number of cases.
According to hospital sources, major government hospitals are reporting between 30 and 40 dengue cases every month, while private facilities are facing a similar situation. In the first ten days of October alone, around 3,000 tests were conducted at Civil Hospital Karachi, of which 355 were confirmed positive for the dengue virus. Forty patients were admitted to different wards, while one woman from Orangi Town succumbed to the disease.
Hospital officials stated that the deceased woman, aged 40, was already suffering from other health conditions but was confirmed to have contracted dengue as well. This latest fatality brings the total number of dengue-related deaths in Karachi this year to two.
Meanwhile, Jinnah Hospital is also witnessing a rising number of patients. Sources there report an average of 30 to 40 cases per month. According to Dr. Saqib Ansari, head of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Children’s Hospital, the hospital receives around 30 to 35 dengue cases each month, with several patients in critical condition.
Health experts in private hospitals have attributed the growing number of dengue cases to poor sanitation, stagnant water, and a general lack of public awareness. They warn that if urgent preventive measures are not taken, the situation could worsen by mid-November.
The Sindh Health Department’s official data has also come under scrutiny for allegedly underreporting the true number of cases. The department’s report, issued on October 11, listed only 61 cases across the province. However, hospital sources claim that hundreds of patients are currently under treatment in Karachi alone. The same report mentioned a total of 555 dengue cases and one death across Sindh so far this year, but hospital records suggest a significant discrepancy between actual and reported figures.
Health specialists have urged the Sindh government to take immediate action by launching large-scale fumigation drives, improving drainage systems, and increasing public awareness campaigns. Citizens are also advised to ensure that no stagnant water accumulates around their homes, wear long-sleeved clothing, and use mosquito repellents to stay protected from dengue.