Islamabad: Alarmed by the first-ever dengue outbreak in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Bagh district, where 48 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has dispatched a rapid response team under the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System (IDSRS) to assist local health authorities in controlling the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.
The NIH team, comprising vector biologist Dr. Shah Fahad, senior veterinary officer Dr. Saqib Hussain and IT officer Asad Khan, joined hands with District Health Officer Dr. Syed Mohsin Gardezi and other local officials to carry out entomological investigations, strengthen surveillance and mobilize communities in the mountainous district.
Accompanied by entomologists and field coordinators from AJK, the mission focused on tracing breeding hotspots and building local capacity for prevention and timely reporting.
A training session was organized for Lady Health Supervisors and Lady Health Workers of Bagh, equipping them with practical skills in indoor mosquito surveillance, safe larvicide application, destruction of breeding sites, and early detection of suspected dengue cases.
The health staff were also trained to raise awareness in households, especially among women, on how to prevent water storage from becoming mosquito nurseries. Officials said the intervention is expected to improve case detection and strengthen the district’s ability to respond to future outbreaks.
Health experts involved in the mission said community engagement remains the most critical factor. Mosquitoes that spread dengue, chikungunya and Zika thrive in domestic water containers, discarded utensils and other stagnant water sources. Unless families themselves adopt protective measures, officials warned, containment efforts will remain limited.
In Bagh, awareness campaigns have now been expanded through schools, mosques and community organizations to ensure the public understands the dangers posed by the disease.
The outbreak in Bagh has rattled health authorities, as the scenic valley at 5,600 feet above sea level was long believed to be safe from tropical diseases.
But unseasonal rains, rising temperatures and stagnant pools left behind by recent flooding have created conditions for Aedes mosquitoes to thrive in the highlands. Experts fear that if dengue can spread in Bagh, similar outbreaks could follow in Gilgit-Baltistan, where glaciers are melting and rainfall patterns are shifting due to climate change.
Officials from NIH described the deployment as more than just a firefighting mission, saying it also tested new systems for real-time data reporting and mapping of entomological surveys.
IT support provided by the federal team is expected to improve coordination between the district and Islamabad, allowing faster responses to future disease threats.
Local health leaders in AJK, including Principal Allied Health Dr. Javed Akbar, acknowledged that the federal intervention had boosted their capacity, but stressed that sustained funding and continued training of frontline workers would be necessary to prevent repeated outbreaks.
The confirmation of dengue in Bagh has coincided with an unusual surge in cases in Murree, which has now reported 62 patients—higher than Rawalpindi’s 59 for the first time in over a decade. Together, the outbreaks in Murree and Bagh show how rapidly mosquitoes are scaling Pakistan’s highlands, erasing the assumption that colder climates provided a natural shield.
For now, Bagh stands as the latest warning that no part of Pakistan is beyond the reach of vector-borne disease. As stagnant water continues to collect across plains and mountain valleys alike, experts say the country is facing a future where only stronger surveillance, rapid response and empowered communities can keep outbreaks in check.
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