Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Haider Shah on October 23 chaired an emergency meeting at his office to review the province’s dengue situation and directed concerned departments to take immediate preventive and control measures against the rising number of cases.
Officials said the meeting was attended by the commissioner Karachi, secretary local government, director general health services, all divisional commissioners, and senior health officials. According to a briefing presented by the directorate general health services, a total of 982 dengue cases have been reported across the province from January to October 2025. Of these, 641 cases were recorded in Karachi and 178 in Hyderabad, while other divisions reported fewer cases. Two deaths, one in Karachi East and another in Hyderabad, were also confirmed during this period.
To facilitate dengue patients, 239 hospitals across the province had established dedicated dengue wards with 1,289 beds allocated for treatment. Additionally, 117 government laboratories were conducting free dengue diagnostic tests, and 23,000 testing kits had been distributed to hospitals. The chief secretary emphasised the need for immediate action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, especially in areas where stagnant water accumulates.
He directed deputy commissioners to coordinate with the Health Department and the Dengue Control Programme to carry out fumigation and larval eradication at nurseries, tire shops, construction sites, and other water collection points. He also instructed that scientific methods of spraying and fumigation be adopted to ensure long-term effectiveness. He ordered the development and implementation of fumigation plans at the Union Council (UC) level without delay.
To raise public awareness, Shah directed the launch of a province-wide media campaign to educate citizens about dengue prevention, early symptoms, and control measures. He also advised the Education Department to ensure that students were informed about dengue prevention during morning assemblies.
He further instructed all deputy commissioners to visit dengue wards in their respective districts to review the availability of medical facilities and staff. He warned that no negligence would be tolerated in implementing dengue prevention measures. He announced that a dedicated control room for dengue monitoring and response would be activated immediately to coordinate efforts across all districts.
Published in The NEWS on October 24, 2025.
