ISLAMABAD - As the cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the capital have decreased, hospitals have started facing an influx of dengue virus cases, The Nation learnt on Tuesday.
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Federal Government Services (FGS) Hospital are receiving dozens of patients infected with dengue virus on a daily basis.
Officials said that as both public sector hospitals were facing load of COVID-19 patients, dengue patients’ influx will increase the burden.
Health officials also said that though Polyclinic has allocated some beds to admit dengue patients, PIMS has no bed for patients infected with the dengue virus.
Spokesperson FGS Dr. Jabbar Bhutto informed The Nation that in the previous 24 hours, 14 dengue patients visited the hospital while five were admitted.
Meanwhile, PIMS Media Coordinator Dr. Waseem Khawaja said that more than 50 dengue patients are being received at the hospital daily, but no one is admitted because the hospital does not have the admission capacity. 
Senior doctors at PIMS informed The Nation that the hospital is overloaded because of COVID-19 patients and other patients who need admission are suffering now.
A doctor dealing with the dengue patients said that dengue patients are being treated but serious patients are being referred to other hospitals because PIMS has not allocated any bed for them.
He said that all four medical wards have been converted into COVID-19 wards and more wards are also being converted for the treatment of pandemic patients.
“COVID-19 is being managed but other patients are being ignored,” he said.
PIMS media coordinator said that earlier it was thought that the pandemic will end in a few months and the situation will become normal, however, it did not happen. He said that this time the hospital is managing a maximum number of COVID-19 patients due to which beds for other patients get short as well.
Dr. Waseem said that ideally all COVID-19 patients should have been shifted to a special COVID-19 facility, but so far, it’s not happening.
“50 to 60 dengue patients is a big number this season but hospitals at this stage have no capacity to admit a single patient,” he said. 
Meanwhile, the District Health Office (DHO) updated that department teams were conducting mosquito fogging operations in Barakahu. The aim of mosquito fogging operations is to kill any adult dengue mosquitoes that may be carrying dengue virus.
It said that dengue prevention and control measures are being ensured. Sustained community involvement can improve vector control efforts sustainability.
About the COVID-19 situation, the DHO updated that 4408 tests were conducted in the previous 24 hours and 106 were tested COVID-19 positive. The virus positivity ratio was reported at 2.40%.
Spokesperson Ministry of NHS Sajid Hussain Shah said that the health department is carrying anti-dengue spray in specific areas of the city for prevention.
He also said that, however, citizens should also take some responsibility and cooperate with the administration to control dengue spread.
“Indeed, there is already COVID-19 pressure on hospitals and surge in dengue cases will further increase the burden on hospitals so residents should also inform about specific areas for the anti-dengue spray,” he said.