Chikungunya worsens Pakistan's dengue, malaria crisis

By Mukhtar Alam    


KARACHI: The mega-polis of Pakistan, Karachi, is once again exposed to a major outbreak of the vector-borne chikungunya disease, courtesy the city's overall deteriorated environmental and sanitation conditions.

According to sources in the provincial health department, localities included in the Central and East districts of Karachi have reported an extraordinary infection among people due to chikungunya virus (Chik V) in recent weeks, calling for immediate actions in the affected areas.

Earlier, during the day (September 18), Sindh Minister for Health Dr Azra F Pechuho highlighted a host of human health-related developments across the province and hinted at the reemergence of Chik V, in addition to the already existing outbreaks of dengue and malaria diseases – all inflicted upon by mosquitoes.

Official data revealed that from May to September this year, 189 out of 211 people suspected of Chik V infections were screened, and 140 (74%) were found positive with the disease in Karachi, with zero deaths. On the other hand, of the 52,780 screened, 1,423 (2.69%) malaria positive cases were reported in Karachi division (7 districts) this year, as of September 16, against a total 181,589 malaria infections across Sindh.

During the same period, Karachi reported a total 1,229 (88%) dengue positive cases and one death, out of 1,394 cases across Sindh.

When contacted, an official of the provincial health department said district authorities have been asked to conduct sprays and undertake larvacidal activities. "Chikungunya was just not as common as malaria and dengue in the last few years, but now the focus is on all three vector-borne diseases."

A health expert recalled 2016, saying Karachiites already besieged with malaria and dengue fever had got another source of concern in the last months of the year as another crippling mosquito-borne virus causing chikungunya disease slipped its bond in their city.

Sindh Government Hospital Saudabad received patients in hundreds in a state of panic, with complaints of high-grade fever, headache, and joint pain, the expert added, saying the development was new and initially attributed to travelers coming from India and Bangladesh.

On September 18, the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, issued an advisory for prevention and control of chikungunya viral infection, citing that following the outbreak of Chik V in Karachi and other different parts of the country, the disease is now endemic in many parts, like dengue fever.

"Keeping in view the hyper-active season of mosquitoes and previous seasonal trends of the disease, it is imperative to undertake preventive measures while staying vigilant to pick suspected cases, confirming diseases, and taking steps to interrupt further transmission."

(File photos courtesy: Social Track, weekly) 

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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