Hyderabad hospitals overwhelmed by dengue outbreak as govt mulls health emergency

The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Tuesday held a follow-up meeting, chaired by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Zain-ul-Abideen Memon, to review the recent surge in dengue cases and strengthen preventive measures across the district.

The meeting was attended by health experts, representatives of government departments, NGOs, social welfare organisations, and civil society members. Participants expressed concern over the rising number of dengue cases and urged the district administration to mobilise all available resources to curb the spread of the virus.

According to an official handout, Assistant Professor Dr. Sughun from Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) gave a detailed presentation on the spread, diagnosis, and prevention of dengue, emphasising the importance of public awareness in controlling the disease.

Addressing the meeting, DC Memon said that the recent rise in dengue cases was linked to an ecosystem cycle but noted that timely preventive measures and community awareness were crucial to contain its spread. He instructed all departments to strictly implement the health department’s SOPs and expand awareness campaigns at both the community and institutional levels.

The DC said that dengue was not a fatal disease and that the focus should be on ensuring quick recovery and preventive action. He informed the meeting that 2,000 dengue testing kits, 400 mosquito nets, and fumigation spray had been provided to the health department, while a control room would begin operations from Wednesday to monitor the situation round the clock.

Memon announced that fumigation efforts would be intensified, with machines brought in from neighboring districts to expand operations. He praised social organisations for their efforts and urged them to continue awareness and cleanliness drives to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.