KARACHI — The Sindh Health Department has reported 1,083 confirmed dengue cases across the province so far in 2025, with 439 new infections recorded in October, according to its latest official data. However, independent figures from major hospitals and laboratories suggest a far more alarming reality, with the actual number of dengue cases likely exceeding 12,000 in just six weeks.
Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho stated that the Karachi Division remains the worst hit, recording 188 cases this month, followed by Hyderabad with 154, Mirpurkhas with 83, Sukkur with 10, Shaheed Benazirabad with three, and Larkana with one. She emphasized that only government-verified hospital data is included in official counts, warning the public not to trust “unverified figures circulating on social media.”
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Despite official reassurances, data from Indus Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital, Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital, and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre paint a grimmer picture, showing nearly 4,000 cases in Karachi alone since September. Meanwhile, Hyderabad’s LUMHS Diagnostic and Research Laboratory reported over 9,000 confirmed cases between early September and mid-October, underscoring a widespread outbreak.
Health experts have criticized the government’s ineffective fumigation drives and poor drainage systems for the surge, citing stagnant rainwater and garbage accumulation as ideal mosquito breeding grounds. PMA-Sindh President Dr Bashir Ahmed Khaskheli said the situation is “far more serious than depicted by official figures,” adding that private clinic data remains largely uncollected.
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Experts like Dr Faisal Mahmood of Aga Khan University Hospital linked the spike to post-monsoon conditions, changes in dengue strains, and flood-related environmental factors. They warn that unless sustained anti-dengue measures—including fumigation, sanitation, and public awareness—are strengthened, Sindh could face one of its worst dengue outbreaks in years.