Islamabad: With China battling its largest-ever chikungunya outbreak, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep concern that Pakistan could face a similar crisis in the wake of ongoing floods and heavy rains, directing federal health authorities to remain on high alert, strengthen surveillance, and coordinate closely with provinces to avert a widespread epidemic.
Officials at the PM Office said China has already reported over 8,000 cases since June in Guangdong Province, and Pakistan now faces similar ecological and climatic conditions that could trigger a parallel health emergency.
The Prime Minister noted that climate change, coupled with record monsoon flooding, has created vast new breeding habitats for the Aedes mosquito, which transmits both chikungunya and dengue viruses. He warned that the diseases are no longer confined to traditional endemic zones but are spreading into cooler regions such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and even Gilgit-Baltistan.
“Pakistan’s fragile health system cannot afford a widespread outbreak of chikungunya or dengue at this critical time,” an official said, citing the Prime Minister’s instructions to health and provincial authorities.
Chikungunya is a viral disease spread through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, the same vector responsible for dengue and Zika. The illness is characterized by sudden fever, severe joint pain, headache, muscle pain, rash, and fatigue. While it is rarely fatal, the intense joint pain can persist for weeks or months, leaving patients debilitated.
Public health experts say that stagnant water created by floods and disrupted drainage systems provides ideal breeding grounds for the mosquito, making outbreaks more likely in coming weeks.
Officials at the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Ministry of Health acknowledged that vector-borne outbreaks are primarily the responsibility of provinces, particularly Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but confirmed that coordination has been initiated at the federal level.
“We are already seeing a surge in vector-related illnesses after the rains. A vast habitat for mosquito breeding is emerging, and Pakistan could face severe chikungunya and dengue epidemics that would overwhelm health facilities and cause avoidable mortalities,” a senior NIH official said.
The WHO Situation Report on Pakistan’s floods paints a worrying picture, with suspected dengue cases rising by 28 percent over the past six weeks and an active outbreak already underway in Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Suspected malaria cases have simultaneously increased by nearly 30 percent, while acute watery diarrhea has been reported in several districts of Sindh and Balochistan. At least 759 people have died and almost 1,000 injured in flood-related incidents since June, while 68 health facilities across KP, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan have been damaged, further restricting access to care.
Public health officials warn that the combination of monsoon devastation, mass displacement, and climate change is accelerating the spread of vectors into areas previously considered safe.
In Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, where cooler temperatures once restricted mosquito survival, warming patterns are allowing Aedes populations to thrive. This trend mirrors what China is experiencing in its southern provinces, where authorities have deployed drones for spraying, introduced larvae-eating fish, and even levied fines against citizens who fail to control mosquito breeding on their premises.
The Prime Minister directed health authorities to adopt aggressive vector-control measures, intensify public awareness campaigns, and ensure that urban centers and flood-hit areas are targeted with fumigation, larviciding, and sanitation drives.
He stressed that lessons should be drawn from China’s containment strategies but adapted to Pakistan’s realities, where displaced populations and damaged health facilities have already put the system under strain.
Health experts caution that while chikungunya is not usually fatal, it causes severe morbidity and economic disruption. Combined with dengue, which often leads to hospitalizations, bleeding, and complications, the double burden could cripple Pakistan’s already fragile health infrastructure.
The WHO and provincial health departments have already activated monsoon contingency plans, set up disease surveillance systems, and deployed rapid response teams, but the scale of risk remains immense.
The PM’s office has urged immediate coordination between federal and provincial governments, with a call for sustained vigilance throughout the remainder of the monsoon season. With more rains predicted and climate change expanding mosquito habitats, officials fear Pakistan may soon be facing an unprecedented wave of chikungunya and dengue unless swift preventive steps are taken.
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