Minister of State for Health Mukhtar Bharath visited the District Health Office in Islamabad to assess the rising number of dengue cases, discuss preventive strategies, and call for greater community engagement in combating the outbreak.
During his visit, health officials briefed the Minister on the latest data, reporting a total of 122 dengue cases within the Islamabad Capital Territory. The majority—107 cases—have been recorded in rural areas, while 15 emerged from urban localities. Notably, 27 new infections were reported in the last 24 hours alone, and nearly a quarter of all cases had a documented recent travel history to Murree.
Minister Bharath acknowledged the significant impact of climate change and heavy monsoon rains in facilitating the rapid spread of dengue mosquitos, a trend evident both in Pakistan and globally. He stressed the need for coordinated, effective interventions to contain the outbreak. This includes reinforcing disease surveillance, accelerating public education campaigns, and improving the overall response to reported cases.
Addressing the healthcare system’s preparedness, the Minister instructed the Islamabad Health Regulatory Authority to ensure all private hospitals and laboratories are equipped to perform ELISA tests for accurate dengue diagnosis. He also emphasized the importance of timely data sharing from healthcare providers to enable authorities to react swiftly and carry out coordinated countermeasures.
Highlighting the crucial role that individual citizens play, Bharath urged the public to strictly observe preventive steps such as removing standing water from homes to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. He warned that strict action would be taken against households found to harbor dengue larvae, underscoring the seriousness of the government’s approach.
Minister Bharath reaffirmed the government’s commitment to comprehensive and robust actions aimed at eradicating dengue, but he cautioned that these efforts will only succeed with continued public cooperation and vigilance.
