As the month of October starts, the Meteorological Department has done well to issue an alert for possible dengue outbreaks.

At the same time, another mtosquito-borne disease chickengunya cases are also on the rise and with the onset of the winter, the two diseaese are likey to affect more people.  It would have been more appropriate if this warning had been issued some time earlier so that cleaning and remedial measures could have been taken earlier for the causes of water accumulation in houses, streets and other places.

 Both dengue and chickengunya as also malaria are infectious diseases, with malaria-carrying mosquitoes breeding in dirty water and dengue-causing mosquitoes breeding in clean water.  According to the analysis of dengue-causing conditions released by the Meteorological Department, dengue has started in Karachi since mid-September due to favorable weather conditions, which may spread to major cities of the country by October. It was said that the spread of dengue can also occur in rain-affected areas after monsoon.

During almost two decades, dengue fever has badly affected the health of people, so measures to stop the breeding of dengue mosquito are necessary to prevent its spread. During the last 10 years, an increase in dengue is being seen between September 20 and September 5 after the monsoon.  Dengue becomes active during 3 to 5 months when the temperature is between 26 and 29 degrees.  Meanwhile, if the humidity in the air remains between 60%, dengue gets a favorable environment. The active period of dengue attacks is two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset.  To prevent mosquito breeding and bites, open water should not be allowed to accumulate inside and outside the houses, water containers should be covered, mosquito repellants, perfumes, etc. should be used.  There is a need to maintain cleanliness in the streets and conduct awareness campaigns at the official and social levels as well. Every year, the menace of mosquitos returns after the monsoon rains across the country and by Septermber ends, it starts taking its toll on people's health. It is very unfortunate that despite serious efforts, we are unable to eradicate the serious diseases from our society. There are reports of dengue in Rawalpindi and Lahore and an increase in the number of dengue and malaria patients in some cities of KPK and Sindh provinces. The number of confirmed dengue cases in Rawalpindi is over 200, while almost same situation exists in KPK.

Sindh is als folowing the suit with dozens of  cases. Punjab has the most dengue cases with Lahore as the main breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes. The current and upcoming two months of dengue and malaria mosquito breeding in Pakistan.  In order prevent  the situation to turn into worsen, the relevant departments need to send their teams to ensure water drainage and mosquito spray. Otherwise, it will not be possible to control dengue mosquitoes this year.  Dengue fever is caused by the bite of its namesake mosquito.  It is a disease. For the past 17 years, its cases have been reported after the monsoon season in different parts of the country. This disease is accompanied by high fever, bleeding and in extreme cases, the risk of death increases.  This disease appears 4 to 10 days after a mosquito bite. is, from which the affected person suffers from nausea, vomiting and body pain along with high fever.  According to medical experts, in case of dengue cases, consult a doctor as soon as the above-mentioned symptoms appear.  People should also stay in their homes to avoid mosquitoes. 

Care should be taken to prevent water accumulation. Meanwhile, another report say that thousands of patients with new virus such as Dengue and Corona-like symptoms have appeared in the provincial capital of Lahore. Despite being aware, the Punjab health department and the district administration left the citizens at the mercy of this virus. The fever is encountered which lasts for five to seven days. Health experts are citing the abundance of mosquitoes in the city as the reason.

Due to which thousands of citizens are suffering from this disease, despite the instructions of the Chief Minister of Punjab, the district administration could not start the mosquito-killing spray in the provincial capital.  The alarm bells have been ringing, experts say that along with dengue, the larvae of mosquitoes that cause malaria are also present in the city, which can be said to be the symptoms of dengue in people who are suffering from dengue fever due to mosquito bites in the city.  On the other hand, throat disorder, vomiting, feeling weak in the body, these are symptoms similar to corona, but this is not corona, it is a new virus. And the Punjab health department is doing nothing but maintains silence. Health experts say that the majority of patients with such symptoms are coming to the emergency and outdoor wards of hospitals.

It seems that it is not Corona, but it is a new virus that has arrived in Lahore and other parts of the country.  The government should immediately mobilize its experts and find out which virus it is, which has affected thousands of people. There is also an urgent need for   fumigation drives to check the mosquito menace which are spreading Malaria and dengue and  chickengunya.