According to the Sindh Health officials report, about 406 cases of dengue fever have been reported across Karachi in the last three days and of these, 162 were diagnosed within one day. This takes the total count of dengue victims to 3,451 this year in Karachi. The spread of this viral infection has led to widespread alarm across the city and people have been advised to take precautionary measures.

Based on the weekly report issued by Prevention and Control Program for Dengue (PCPD) Sindh, 14 more cases were reported in Sindh in 1 day. The total cases diagnosed in rest of Sindh is 203.

The death count this year has reached 12, six times that of last year when only 2 people died from this fatal disease. The last person falling victim to this lethal illness was 21-year old Azra Jehan, a resident of Keamari, who died at Sindh Government Lyari General Hospital.

Earlier this year Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza had stated that efforts were being made to bring this disease under control including a thorough research of why some areas were more affected than others. Dengue Control and Operations Centre had been set up in the Ministry of Health, Islamabad. Alongside, two hotlines were established to entertain queries of affected persons and to advise them.

Dengue is a mosquito borne virus which spreads through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms include high fever, headache, vomiting, skin rashes, muscle pain, mild bleeding and in extreme cases death might occur as well.