Pakistan Faces Worsening Dengue Outbreak Amid Health System Challenges

November 2025

Pakistan is once again facing a severe dengue outbreak, with thousands of cases reported across major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. The recent surge in infections has put renewed pressure on the country’s already strained health system, as hospitals continue to receive new patients well into November.

Rising Cases Across Provinces

In Sindh, health authorities have reported several hundred confirmed cases, while families in Hyderabad and Karachi have claimed additional unrecorded deaths. Similar trends are being observed in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where hospital wards remain crowded despite cooler weather, which usually slows mosquito activity.

Experts believe the official figures may not reflect the full scale of the outbreak, as many patients seek treatment or testing at private clinics and laboratories that are not included in provincial reporting systems. This data gap has complicated timely coordination and response efforts.

Climate and Environmental Factors

Unseasonably warm temperatures, high humidity, and poor drainage conditions have created an ideal environment for mosquito breeding, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
Health specialists have also warned that a more persistent dengue strain may be circulating this year, with some patients experiencing longer recovery times than in previous seasons.

Response and Preventive Measures

Authorities in multiple provinces have begun fumigation drives and public awareness campaigns to control mosquito breeding. However, experts say that long-term planning and early surveillance are essential to prevent future outbreaks.

Public health analysts recommend:

Establishing an integrated disease monitoring system that includes data from private healthcare providers
Ensuring uninterrupted availability of testing kits and diagnostic tools
Investing in research and early-warning systems to track emerging viral strains

The Way Forward

Dengue outbreaks have become a recurring challenge in Pakistan, often returning each year with increased intensity. Sustainable progress will require strong coordination between federal and provincial health departments, transparent data collection, and consistent preventive action beyond the high-risk months.

If addressed strategically, experts believe Pakistan can transition from reactive emergency responses to a proactive public health model capable of containing dengue before it becomes a year-round threat.