Risk of severe dengue epidemic in 10 cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad

Lahore: The Meteorological Department has issued a dengue alert, expressing the fear of a severe and unusual outbreak of dengue in 10 major cities of the country, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, from September 20 due to favorable weather conditions and obstruction in flood drainage.

The dengue alert issued by the Meteorological Department states that all factors, including historical trends, current and future weather conditions, and large-scale accumulated flood water, are creating a favorable environment for the spread of the dengue epidemic.

According to the Meteorological Department, favorable weather conditions and obstruction in the drainage of water caused by the floods have created favorable conditions for the onset of dengue from September 20, 2025.

According to experts, there is a risk of a severe and unusual dengue epidemic in the current season, especially in the 10 major cities of Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Sukkur, Hyderabad, and Multan, as well as other flood-affected areas of the country.

The Meteorological Department has strongly advised all stakeholders, including the district administration, the health department, and the general public, to immediately take precautionary measures to prevent the threat of dengue.

The warning states that the National Health Institutions and Dengue Control Centers should remain on high alert, improve the preparedness of hospitals, and intensify mosquito control operations.

The Meteorological Department has suggested measures to the health department, local administration, and dengue control centers to regularly monitor environmental and meteorological data (temperature, humidity, rainfall) to identify the danger periods of dengue.

The warning states that widespread spraying, use of larvicides, and cleaning of drains, especially in flood-affected areas, should be carried out, while mosquito control and cleaning measures should be included in flood relief operations and shelters.

The warning further states that public awareness campaigns should be conducted through TV, radio, social media, mosques, and local community leaders to attract people to preventive measures and timely medical advice.

The warning suggested working with national and provincial disaster management authorities to keep relief camps and shelters as dry as possible and to prevent mosquito breeding through clean water and sanitation arrangements.

The warning issued regarding dengue has directed the public to remove or empty water-collecting objects around the houses (old tires, buckets, garbage, tarpaulins, etc.) and keep water-storing containers well covered.

The public has been directed to use mosquito repellent, nets, coils, etc., especially in the early morning and evening hours, and to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants during the most active mosquito hours, while keeping windows and doors screened or closed.

The public has been instructed to take special care of cleanliness in flood-affected or tent-settled areas, not to allow water to accumulate around tents, boil or purify water before use, and keep the environment clean.