KARACHI: More than 1,000 dengue cases were reported in two of the largest divisions in the southern Sindh province over the last 24 hours, said the provincial health department on Friday, with 196 patients discharged from public and private hospitals.
The health authorities said that 1,124 cases were confirmed in the Karachi and Hyderabad divisions after 5,393 dengue tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.
Dengue, a viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, spreads rapidly during the monsoon season and can cause high fever, severe joint pain and internal bleeding in some cases.
“Ninety-seven patients recovered and were discharged from public hospitals and 99 from private hospitals,” the Sindh Health Department said.
“No dengue-related death was reported across the province during the [24-hour] period,” it added. “Currently, 244 dengue patients are admitted in government hospitals and 205 in private hospitals across Sindh.”
The statement quoted Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Baloch as saying that 212 new patients had also been admitted to hospitals within 24 hours.
Around 52 laboratories are conducting dengue testing in the Karachi and Hyderabad divisions, it added.
The latest surge in Sindh comes as several South Asian countries report a seasonal rise in dengue infections linked to heavy rains and poor drainage conditions.
Dengue outbreaks are reported annually across Pakistan, with major cities such as Karachi and Lahore often recording the highest number of cases.
The provincial health officials in Sindh have urged people to remove standing water, cover containers and eliminate mosquito breeding sites as part of a citywide prevention campaign.
