PESHAWAR/CHARSADDA, Pakistan: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched an aggressive response to the rising dengue crisis, deploying five entomologists to Charsadda — now identified as the epicenter of the outbreak. With over 718 confirmed cases in the Peshawar Division, Charsadda has emerged as the worst-hit district, prompting authorities to step up containment efforts.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has declared a health emergency, suspending all staff leaves across the health department, district administrations, and relevant line agencies. Anti-dengue operations are now being carried out at the union council level under the supervision of assistant commissioners, while deputy commissioners have been tasked to personally monitor the situation.
Emergency medical camps have been established, extensive spray campaigns launched, and hospitals instructed to set up special wards for dengue patients. Officials say the arrival of entomologists — experts in mosquito surveillance and control — marks a significant step to identify breeding hotspots and cut off the spread at its source.
The provincial government has termed the situation alarming but “manageable” if the intensified operations are carried out without delay. For residents of Charsadda, however, the crisis has already brought fear and disruption, raising urgent questions about whether the containment strategy can effectively halt the virus before it spreads further.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.