RAWALPINDI: Dengue patient being treatment at DHQ Hospital. INP PHOTO by Raja Imran
A 30-year-old man from Mardan, one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s high-risk districts for dengue, has died from Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever — marking the province’s first dengue-related death of the year, according to an official health report.
The report stated that the patient was admitted to Mardan Medical Complex (MMC) on September 30 but discharged himself against medical advice two days later. After leaving the hospital, he reportedly received multiple dextrose drips at home, which worsened his condition. The man was readmitted to the hospital a few days later but succumbed to the illness.
According to the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System (IDSRS) of the Directorate General of Health Services, the patient had tested positive for dengue five days before his death.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 34 new dengue cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 3,236. Of these, 57 patients are currently hospitalised, while 2,990 have recovered. So far, 1,365 people have required hospital treatment, and 245 active cases remain across the province.
Charsadda leads with 1,008 confirmed infections, followed by Haripur (301), Mansehra (299), Peshawar (294), Mardan (253), Swabi (132), Kohat (125), and Abbottabad (114).
Health teams involved in the anti-dengue drive said that despite repeated warnings, many residents have ignored preventive guidelines.
“During our visit to Sufaid Dheri, where 16 people tested positive for Chikungunya, nearly every household was found to contain mosquito larvae,” one health worker reported.
Following an increase in vector-borne diseases, the district health department — under the supervision of Dr. Shahid Yunis, Director General of Health Services — organised a free medical camp in Sufaid Dheri with support from Rotary International. Over 650 patients received medical care, screening, and vaccinations.
Officials said the initiative was overseen by Dr. Mohammad Atif Khan, Dr. Anthony Alamzeb Feroz, and Dr. Mussawir Manzoor, while District Entomologist Aminullah and IDSRS officer Mustaqeem Afridi conducted community awareness sessions on preventing mosquito breeding.
Residents in high-risk areas were advised to cover water containers to prevent mosquito breeding. Health experts noted that frequent power outages have forced people to store water, inadvertently creating breeding sites for mosquitoes.
They warned that both dengue and chikungunya spread through the same mosquito species, and controlling stagnant water remains the most effective prevention strategy.
Last year, three dengue-related deaths were recorded in the province out of 4,200 infections. Officials credit early intervention and adherence to prevention guidelines for reducing fatalities this year. However, experts cautioned that the current weather still favours mosquito breeding, and cases may rise through October without community cooperation.