Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued its most alarming dengue alert to date, warning that the country is facing an “unprecedentedly high-risk” of a severe outbreak this season, particularly in flood-affected districts of Punjab and Sindh where stagnant water and overcrowded shelters have created perfect breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
The alert, released on Monday, cautioned that from September 20 onwards, climatic conditions combined with widespread flooding have set the stage for a massive surge in dengue cases.
Experts noted that temperatures between 26 to 29 degrees Celsius, humidity above 60 percent and recent heavy rains have created ideal thresholds for the spread of the disease. With millions of people displaced, drainage systems destroyed and entire villages still submerged, the situation has become critical.
The PMD warned that the current season from late September to early December could witness one of the worst outbreaks in the country’s history, with major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Sukkur, Hyderabad and Multan also highly vulnerable alongside inundated rural districts.
Health departments and district administrations have been urged to act immediately by stepping up fumigation drives, clearing blocked drains, spraying larvicides and ensuring flood relief camps remain clean and dry to minimize mosquito breeding.
The department has also stressed the need to strengthen hospital preparedness and ensure dengue control centers are fully equipped to handle an expected influx of patients.
The general public has been advised to cover water containers, remove stagnant water from surroundings, use mosquito nets and repellents, and wear protective clothing during peak mosquito activity hours — two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset.
In flood-hit areas, residents are urged to maintain strict hygiene, avoid standing water around tents and shelters, and use treated or boiled water for drinking and washing.
The PMD alert comes at a time when dengue cases are already being reported from Karachi, Murree and Bagh in Azad Kashmir, raising fears that the outbreak may already be spreading. Health experts have warned that if preventive action is not taken immediately, Pakistan’s fragile healthcare system could be overwhelmed within weeks.
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