Mosquito-borne diseases remain rampant across the province, with a recent surge seeing at least 17,000 malaria cases reported in various cities within two weeks. The Vector Borne Disease Directorate General Health Services has released data indicating that from January to early November, the province recorded 267,389 cases of mosquito-borne illnesses. Malaria accounted for the majority with 265,021 cases, followed by dengue at 2,179 cases, including one fatality, and chikungunya with 189 cases.
Hyderabad experienced the most significant impact with 126,584 malaria cases, followed by Larkana (59,752), Mirpurkhas (35,248), Shaheed Benazirabad (22,647), Sukkur (18,718), and Karachi (2,072). Additionally, the province conducted malaria screenings for 6,015,702 patients.
During this period, Karachi reported one dengue-related death among the 2,179 cases identified. Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro of the Pakistan Medical Association warns that these figures likely represent just “the tip of the iceberg,” due to substantial gaps in the surveillance system and limited diagnostic capabilities, exacerbated by the absence of fumigation drives. He
The majority of patients visiting general physicians present symptoms like high fever and severe joint pain, often attributed to chikungunya without concrete scientific evidence. Doctors typically exclude dengue and malaria before determining a treatment plan for suspected chikungunya cases.
The cost and reliability of chikungunya tests are problematic, although their availability has increased in several laboratories. One private hospital, which had been the sole provider of these tests, recently introduced a package for Rs7,600 that includes tests for dengue, malaria, and chikungunya after running out of its diagnostic kits. Post-chikungunya recovery involves persistent joint pains, for which doctors recommend supplements and daily exercise while advising against frequent painkiller use due to potential kidney damage. There is a pressing need for local studies on viral mutations to enhance treatment strategies.
