Punjab reports 43 dengue cases in 24 hours

LAHORE: In last 24 hours 43 cases of dengue fever reported in Punjab including 15 new infections surfaced in Lahore, provincial officials said.

The total cases of dengue fever in Punjab during current season has reached to 3917, according to health department sources.

Total number of dengue patients in Lahore has reached to 708 with new cases of the disease.

Officials have feared dangerous spike in dengue cases in the city this year.

Provincial health minister Khawaja Imran Nazir has advised cities to observe SOPs for protection from dengue infection. “Citizens should compulsorily arrange fumigation in homes and use lotions”, minister said.

He said that the dengue surveillance has been increased and mosquitoes larvae being destroyed on emergency basis.

The number of dengue fever cases has also surged rapidly in Sindh as over 100 patients were reported across Sindh in 24 hours on Tuesday.

The Karachi division reported the highest number of dengue patients admitted to government hospitals, with 31 new cases, followed by 24 in Hyderabad.

Dengue Alert

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had recently issued a high-risk dengue outbreak alert for the period between September 20 and early December during year 2025, citing favorable weather conditions and widespread flooding as key drivers of potential transmission.

According to PMD’s Dengue Alert, dengue fever has become a recurring public health threat over the past decade, with major outbreaks typically occurring in the post-monsoon season.

Scientific analysis shows that dengue risk intensifies when temperatures remain between 26–29 °C for 3 to 5 weeks, relative humidity exceeds 60%, and rainfall surpasses 27 mm with a lag effect of up to three weeks.

Dengue mosquitoes are most active two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset, while their breeding slows only when temperatures fall below 16 °C.

This year’s prolonged monsoon rains, river overflows, and reservoir discharges have inundated large parts of Punjab and Sindh, including major urban centers. Many areas remain submerged, displacing millions and overcrowding relief shelters—further increasing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

PMD warned that the combination of stagnant floodwater, high humidity, and optimal temperatures has created ideal conditions for dengue outbreaks.

The risk is particularly high in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Sukkur, Hyderabad, and Multan, as well as across flood-affected areas nationwide.