KP Dengue Cases Reach 4,856 as Kohat Becomes Main Hotspot
KP dengue cases continued to rise in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during October, the peak month for infection, taking the provincial tally to 4,856 after 51 new cases were reported on Sunday. Kohat remains the most affected district, with 2,822 cases in total.
The latest dengue situation report, released by the Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response System (IDSRS) at the Directorate General Health Services of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, shows that 2,244 cases have been reported during the current month alone. That figure confirms October as the hardest month of the year for the province, a pattern health officials say repeats every year.
Where the cases are concentrated
Kohat has recorded 1,230 cases during October alone, more than half of the month’s provincial total. Peshawar follows with 611 cases in total, and Khyber with 430. Bannu has reported 192 cases, Haripur 133, Abbottabad 89, Charsadda 88, Mansehra 68, Karak 57, and Nowshera five.
All other districts of the province, except Shangla, Torghar, Lower South Waziristan, Lower Kohistan, Kolai Palas, Kurram and Upper Dir, have reported single-digit case counts. The concentration in Kohat is therefore striking. One district accounts for well over half of all cases in the province, while most other districts remain in single figures.
How serious are the current KP dengue cases
According to the IDSRS report, 199 cases are currently active in the province, with none requiring hospitalisation. One person, a resident of Tank, has died of the disease in Dera Ismail Khan. A total of 4,656 patients have recovered, while other infected people are being managed through home isolation.
Those figures carry two messages. The first is reassuring: most patients recover, and no active case currently needs hospital care. The second is a warning: 199 active cases still mean 199 people who can pass the virus on if a mosquito bites them and then bites someone else. Home isolation only works if patients protect themselves from further bites and rest properly.
Health officials said October had traditionally been the most infectious period of the year, with the highest number of dengue cases reported during that month. Cases usually begin to decline in November as temperatures drop, creating less favourable conditions for the survival and breeding of mosquitoes that transmit the disease.
Why Kohat became the hotspot this year
Kohat has emerged as another major dengue hotspot this year, following previous outbreaks in Peshawar and Charsadda. Last year, Charsadda reported more than 1,000 cases, surpassing Peshawar because of an outbreak in its three union councils. This year, Kohat has recorded the highest number of infections, despite the health department having warned of the outbreak several months ago.
The health department had asked the Kohat district administration to level the ground at demolished refugee camps and fill ditches to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, particularly pools of stagnant water. However, the recommended measures were not implemented, and cases continued to emerge, particularly in the areas surrounding the sites identified by health officials.
A recurring challenge since 2012
Dengue has been a recurring public health challenge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2012, as the mosquito population has continued to thrive under favourable environmental conditions. The disease typically begins to spread in April, peaks in September and October, and declines in November.
The health department begins preparations for the following year by training doctors, lady health workers and municipal staff to strengthen mosquito-control efforts under the Dengue Action Plan. The plan seeks to adopt an integrated approach for prevention, control and patient management, in collaboration with 19 line departments.
Officials said dengue prevention required a combination of measures, with environmental management given priority because it was considered a safe and sustainable approach that posed minimal risks to human health. They stressed the need for raising public awareness about the dangers of storing water in uncovered containers, air-coolers and flowerpots, all of which could provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
What officials warn against
According to officials, community awareness and the elimination of mosquito breeding sites are preferable to excessive reliance on larvicides, insecticides and other biological control methods, which may pose health risks if used improperly. They also warned that excessive spraying could endanger human health, and said several countries had successfully controlled dengue through preventive strategies.
How many dengue cases has KP reported?
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 4,856 dengue cases in total, including 2,244 during October and 51 new cases on Sunday.
Which district has the most dengue cases in KP?
Kohat, with 2,822 cases in total, including 1,230 during October alone, followed by Peshawar with 611 and Khyber with 430.
