ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is facing a dangerous spike in epidemic-prone diseases, with suspected dengue cases rising by 41 percent and malaria by 26 percent in just six weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
According to the WHO’s latest situation report, outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea have already been confirmed in Balochistan’s Khuzdar and Sindh’s Shaheed Benazirabad districts, while skin infections, scabies, snake bites and dog bites are emerging as major concerns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The agency cautioned that stagnant floodwater and collapsed infrastructure could trigger “an epidemic within a disaster”.
At least 104 health facilities across the country have been reported damaged — 97 partially and seven completely — leaving thousands without access to medical care when they need it most. In KP, 60 Lady Health Worker houses have been affected, of which 32 were completely destroyed.
Since late June, monsoon rains, flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods have left 819 people dead and 1,111 injured nationwide, the report said. Punjab and KP remain the worst hit, with nearly 30,000 people currently living in relief camps. Children account for more than 200 of the reported deaths.