RISING BURDEN OF DENGUE FEVER IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Dengue fever has become one of the most persistent and challenging public health threats in Pakistan. Over the last decade, the country has witnessed recurrent outbreaks, particularly during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, when environmental and climatic conditions favor the breeding of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes ¹. Despite repeated waves and increasing disease burden, dengue continues to expose significant weaknesses in surveillance, prevention, and vector-control strategies across the nation. Urban centers like Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Multan remain the most affected, largely due to rapid urbanization, overcrowding, water storage practices, and inadequate waste management. Poor drainage systems, accumulation of stagnant water, and limited awareness about household breeding sites allow mosquitoes to flourish ². Each year, thousands of individuals are hospitalized with dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and dengue shock syndrome (DSS), placing immense pressure on emergency departments and intensive care units. Unfortunately, many cases go unreported, masking the true extent of the epidemic ³.