Two more die as dengue cases surge across Sindh; Over 1,500 new cases reported in 24 hours

Dengue fever continues to spread rapidly across Sindh, claiming two more lives in the past 24 hours, according to the provincial Health Department. With the latest fatalities, the total number of deaths from dengue this year has risen to four.

Health officials confirmed that 1,558 new dengue cases were reported in the last 24 hours after 5,742 tests were conducted across the province — indicating a concerning positivity rate of 27 percent.

Karachi and Hyderabad remain the hardest-hit areas. Of the total tests, 4,010 were conducted in Karachi, yielding 758 positive cases, while 1,732 tests in Hyderabad division confirmed 800 infections.

Health Department data shows that 81 new dengue patients were admitted to government hospitals, while 68 others were admitted to private hospitals during the same period. Currently, 201 patients are under treatment in government facilities and 180 in private hospitals across Sindh.

The Health Department has allocated 895 beds for dengue patients in public hospitals and 329 beds in private facilities. Karachi alone has over 528 hospital beds reserved for dengue patients.

So far this month, the province has reported 2,090 confirmed cases, bringing the total number of dengue infections in 2025 to 2,735. Karachi division has recorded 1,005 cases this month, followed by 938 in Hyderabad, 114 in Mirpurkhas, 13 in Sukkur, 14 in Shaheed Benazirabad, and 6 in Larkana.

Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Baloch said the government has reduced diagnostic test prices to ease the financial burden on citizens. The dengue test now costs Rs. 1,100 (down from Rs. 3,450), and the malaria test has been reduced to Rs. 600 (from Rs. 3,000).

Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho assured the public that the government is taking all possible measures to curb the outbreak. “Spraying, fogging, and drainage improvement campaigns are being carried out in all districts. Deputy commissioners and district health officers have been instructed to ensure no water accumulation occurs,” she said.

Dr. Pechuho also urged citizens to rely only on verified information and cooperate with health officials in ongoing anti-dengue efforts.