Nearly 10,013 cases reported all over Pakistan

2,363 in Punjab

2,258 in Sindh

1,814 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

1,772 in Balochistan

How many have died in 2019 outbreak?

20

What is Pakistan doing about controlling dengue?

Ministry of Health has set up Dengue Control and Operations centre to review countrywide dengue-related situation on a daily basis and set up a hotline to respond to queries. Federal government is coordinating with provincial health officials to curb the dengue outbreak.

What preventive measures are being taken?

Comprehensive fumigation drive

Removal of stagnant water

Mass awareness campaigns

Free medical checkup

Why does the dengue epidemic hit Pakistan every year?

1. Monsoon season brings a host of mosquito-borne disease like dengue.

2. Country’s poor hygiene and inefficient sewerage system are aggravated during and after the rainy season.

3. Lack of coordination among various departments of the health sector and inefficient management of the disease by the political administration.

Symptoms

Symptoms begin to emerge four to seven days after a mosquito bite and usually last three to ten days. Individuals should suspect dengue when high fever is accompanied by two of the following symptoms:

Severe headache

Pain behind the eyes

Nausea, Vomiting

Muscle and joint pains

Rash

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for dengue fever, but early detection and access to medical care reduces fatality rate below 1 per cent. Patients should seek medical advice, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol is recommended to bring down fever and reduce pain.

Fast facts

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection transmitted mainly by Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Dengue is endemic in nearly 100 countries in Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, Africa and the Caribbean.

Around 40 per cent of the world’s population lives in areas at risk of dengue transmission.

Dengue incidents are substantially increasing worldwide.

Every year, up to 400 million people get infected with dengue; of these, 100 million people develop dengue fever and 22,000 die from severe dengue.

How to protect yourself from dengue?

Wear long clothing

Use mosquito repellents.

Use mosquito traps and nets.

Door and window screens can help.

Avoid being outside at dawn and dusk.

Remove stagnant water in and around homes.