The Pakistan Medical Association has declared an emergency after a surge in dengue fever cases in Hyderabad and Karachi.
The PMA claims that inadequate sanitation, lack of mosquito control efforts and ineffective local government structures are responsible for the unprecedented rise in dengue fever cases in Hyderabad and Karachi. According to the organization, it is a disaster caused by human negligence rather than a natural epidemic.
According to the latest figures from the Sindh Health Department, 11,763 dengue cases have been registered across the province this year, out of which 6,199 cases have been reported this month alone.
The report said that 203 people are under treatment in Hyderabad while 147 patients are undergoing treatment in various government and private facilities in Karachi.
The PMA has insisted that the provincial government immediately launch a vector control campaign in the affected districts, ensure that drains, garbage dumps and standing water are cleaned, and conduct an impartial review of the dengue control measures.
Also read: Early Symptoms of Dengue Fever and Immediate Treatment
According to Provincial Health Secretary Rehan Baloch, the dengue positivity rate in Hyderabad has come down from 46 percent last week to 35 percent this week, but the situation is still not completely under control.
Health experts have warned that if immediate action is not taken, the dengue epidemic in Karachi and Hyderabad could further increase and become a major threat to public health.
