Over 180 suspected dengue surface across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Over 180 suspected dengue cases were reported in different parts of the country during the last 24 hours.

According to health officials, 24 dengue patients were admitted to two major public sector hospitals in Islamabad during the last 24 hours.

At least 20 dengue patients were admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and four were to the Polyclinic on Friday.

The PIMS Hospital has designated three wards for dengue patients. A spokesperson for the Polyclinic, Jabbar Bhutto, said that 30 beds have been allocated for dengue patients. He said that currently, 13 patients are under treatment at the health facility.

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Meanwhile, the Punjab Health Department confirmed 57 new cases of dengue with 55 recorded in Rawalpindi during the last 24 hours. At least 293 new cases were reported in the province over the last week. The province has recorded 843 dengue patients since January.

Meanwhile, health officials in Peshawar said that different hospitals received over 100 suspected dengue patients in the past 24 hours, and of them, 39 have tested positive.

On May 10, 2024, a new vaccine for dengue received pre-qualification from the World Health Organization (WHO). TAK-003 is the second dengue vaccine to be pre-qualified by WHO. Developed by Takeda, it is a live-attenuated vaccine containing weakened versions of the four stereotypes of the virus that cause dengue.