The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has sounded a nationwide alarm over a possible dengue outbreak, warning that the risk will remain high from September 20 until early December 2025.
According to PMD’s Dengue Alert-I, the seasonal threat has worsened due to prolonged rains, heavy flooding, and persistent humidity. Scientific data shows dengue-carrying mosquitoes thrive when temperatures stay between 26–29 °C for several weeks, combined with high moisture and rainfall above 27 mm.
This year, widespread flooding in Punjab and Sindh has submerged cities and villages, creating stagnant water ideal for mosquito breeding. Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, and other major urban centers are among the high-risk areas. Relief shelters in flood-hit districts, overcrowded and unhygienic, pose additional dangers.
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Authorities have been instructed to take immediate preventive action. Provincial health departments are to carry out fumigation drives, spray larvicides, and clear stagnant pools of water. Continuous monitoring of environmental data has also been advised.
The public has been urged to adopt protective habits, including wearing long-sleeved clothing, using repellents, and keeping homes free of standing water. Residents are especially warned about the peak biting times—early morning and late afternoon.
PMD stressed that coordinated efforts from health agencies, local governments, and communities are critical to contain the looming outbreak before it escalates into a nationwide health emergency.
