PESHAWAR, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP):
In response to mounting health concerns, the KP health department has directed local officials to activate control rooms, establish isolation wards, and stockpile essential medicines, anticipating a possible Chikungunya outbreak in Peshawar district. The Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL) has begun collecting samples from suspected patients to confirm diagnoses. Dawn
Meanwhile, dengue cases continue to rise across KP. In the last 24 hours alone, 77 new cases were recorded, and 32 patients were hospitalized, raising the total dengue cases in the province to 2,880, with 1,269 hospitalizations so far. Currently, 98 patients are receiving inpatient care. Dawn
District Breakdown & Rising Risk
Key districts currently under pressure include Charsadda (966 cases), Mansehra (299), Haripur (262), and Peshawar (238) — all recording alarming numbers of dengue infections. Dawn
Health officials observed that during visits to dengue-affected areas, some patients displayed symptoms resembling Chikungunya, prompting urgency in testing. So far, 21 samples have been collected; results are expected within 24 hours. Dawn
Proactive Measures & Preventive Directives
The District Health Office (DHO) of Peshawar has been directed to:
- Set up a district-level control room with dedicated staff
- Activate isolation wards in hospitals, especially near suspected clusters
- Ensure adequate supply of medicines for case management
- Intensify mosquito control efforts, targeting larval habitats and breeding grounds
- Maintain daily updated case line-lists and enter data promptly
- Engage in community awareness campaigns on vector prevention
- Hold regular review meetings with key stakeholders to monitor outbreak control efforts Dawn
The National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has also issued an advisory clarifying that Chikungunya is a viral illness transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, sharing many symptoms with dengue but typically less severe and rarely fatal. Dawn
Why This Matters
With dengue already endemic in KP and now signs of Chikungunya in local communities, health authorities emphasize the critical need for early detection, prevention, and coordinated response. According to experts, Chikungunya’s incubation period is 4–8 days, though it can range from 2–12 days, and both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are active daytime biters, complicating control efforts. Dawn
As the region braces for a dual vector-borne disease challenge, public cooperation in eliminating standing water, using mosquito repellents, and seeking early medical attention is essential.
