KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has called on the government to declare a health emergency in Karachi and Hyderabad as dengue fever continues to afflict thousands across Sindh. With over 400 patients currently hospitalized, the association warned that the worsening situation reflects systemic failures in sanitation, waste management, and vector-control efforts.
Provincial health department data show that 11,763 dengue cases have been reported in Sindh this year, including 6,199 cases in October alone. Of the current patients, 147 are being treated in Karachi and 203 in Hyderabad, where the outbreak has hit particularly hard. Since October, at least 25 deaths, including children, have been reported.
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The PMA criticised the provincial government for delayed fumigation, ineffective municipal services, and stagnant water management, calling the outbreak a “man-made tragedy.” The association demanded immediate action, including clearing open drains, garbage dumps, and other mosquito breeding sites, along with an independent audit of the provincial dengue prevention programme.
Health Secretary Rehan Baloch said dengue positivity in Hyderabad had dropped from 46% to 35% in the past week, asserting that the government was closely monitoring the outbreak. However, doctors and public health experts argue that stronger, immediate interventions are needed to prevent further deaths.
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The rising dengue cases underscore the urgent need for coordinated vector-control measures, enhanced public awareness, and strict enforcement of environmental health standards to curb the spread of the disease in Sindh’s urban centres.