KARACHI: Health authorities in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province have confirmed 727 dengue cases in the last 24 hours, the Sindh Health Department said on Sunday night, amid an outbreak of the disease in the region.
According to the data, 1,919 tests were carried out in Karachi division, detecting 269 positive cases. In Hyderabad division, 1,359 tests were conducted and 458 tested positive.
During the last 24 hours, 103 new dengue patients were admitted to government hospitals while private hospitals received 72 new admissions. Meanwhile, 150 patients were discharged after recovery.
“Currently, 271 dengue patients are under treatment in government hospitals and 171 in private hospitals across Sindh,” the health department said.
The provincial tally of dengue cases this month has risen to 6,708, while a total of 12,284 cases has been recorded so far this year.
A total of 987 beds have been allocated for dengue patients in public sector hospitals, including 256 in Karachi, 165 in Hyderabad and 566 in the rest of Sindh. Private hospitals have allocated 443 beds for dengue patients, including 164 in Karachi, 213 in Hyderabad and 66 in other districts.
The provincial dengue surveillance network is presently receiving data from 34 laboratories.
“There has been a significant decline in dengue positivity across the province,” Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Baloch was quoted as saying.
Dengue outbreaks are reported annually across Pakistan, with major cities such as Karachi and Lahore often recording the highest number of cases. 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.
Provincial health officials have urged people to remove standing water, cover containers and eliminate mosquito breeding sites as part of a prevention campaign.
