CHIKUNGUNYA OUTBREAK HITS KARACHI: 140 CASES CONFIRMED

A worrying surge in chikungunya cases has swept through Karachi, with 140 individuals confirmed to have contracted the disease since May, according to the health department.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) has sounded the alarm, issuing an advisory to control and prevent the spread of this viral disease, which bears striking similarities to dengue fever.

ALARMING STATISTICS

• 211 suspected cases reported between May and September
• 189 individuals screened for the disease
• 140 tested positive for chikungunya

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

The Ministry of Health has directed relevant authorities to take immediate measures to combat the outbreak, warning that chikungunya is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, the same vector responsible for dengue fever.

EXPERT INSIGHT

Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Bharat, emphasized the importance of precautionary measures. “Chikungunya is a similar disease to dengue fever, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Most cases have been reported from Karachi, while other regions have also been affected.”

GLOBAL CONTEXT

Globally, chikungunya cases have been reported in over 110 countries, primarily in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Pakistan, particularly Karachi, has become a hotspot for the disease.

CALL TO ACTION

As the outbreak continues to spread, health experts urge citizens to take proactive measures to prevent the transmission of chikungunya.