As the world grapples with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, another familiar more urgent health emergency threatens the country and its health infrastructure. Pakistan has suffered the brunt of dengue epidemics before, with the country undergoing dire situations in 2017 and 2011. The numbers for dengue this year have not reached the height of emergency as they had in previous numbers, but the rising infection rate is alarming, with more and more dengue patients reporting in hospitals every day.

The outbreak appears to have started in Lahore and has been getting worse in the provincial capital day by day. Lahore saw 146 new cases of the dengue virus in one day this week, with 740 patients admitted to Lahore hospitals. On Wednesday, the city reported 229 cases of the dengue virus out of the province’s total number of 325.

At this rapid pace, the ICUs, already crumbling with coronavirus patients, will soon run out of beds. What is unfortunate is that despite the early warning signs, the government was unable to contain the dengue epidemic to Lahore, and the virus has gained ground in Islamabad and KP as well now. The season’s highest number of dengue cases was reported in the capital on Thursday, with 125 cases being reported in one day this week. The KP government has reported a grand total of 3,300 cases in the province, evoking bitter memories of the past when cities like Peshawar suffered the worst of dengue.

Pandemics and epidemics cannot be compared, but the death toll of dengue has so far been reported being higher than the coronavirus. The rate of deaths in Islamabad from dengue fever has risen to six in an alarmingly short time. While the country continues to do well with dealing with the Covid-19 positivity rate, keeping it below 3 percent while its recovery rate has also improved, the government’s negligence towards dengue cannot be ignored.

The prevalence and spread of the dengue virus are unforgivable considering the country has time and time dealt with this health emergency and has protocols in place already. The government must start an aggressive dengue awareness programme and enact fumigation campaigns as soon as possible.