KOHAT – Dengue fever is spreading rapidly across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with 163 new confirmed cases reported during the past week, pushing the province’s cumulative tally to 1,690, according to the latest data released by the Directorate General Health Services (DGHS).
The figures show that 1,454 suspected dengue cases were reported across the province during the week, with 163 subsequently testing positive. The total number of suspected cases recorded during the current dengue season has reached 6,727.
Kohat remains the most affected district, accounting for 1,023 confirmed cases, followed by Peshawar with 316, Bannu with 90 and Haripur with 54.
With more than 60 percent of the province’s confirmed cases reported from Kohat, the district has emerged as the main focus of concern amid signs of continued transmission.
Kohat also recorded the highest number of new infections during the past week, with 80 confirmed cases, while Peshawar reported 42.
The rising number of cases has caused concern among residents of Kohat city and surrounding areas. Some residents claim that the actual number of infections could be higher than the official figures because several patients are reportedly seeking treatment at private clinics or recovering at home.
These claims could not be independently verified.
Several localities, including Kotal Township, Shinwari Town, Jangle Khel, Garhi Jat, the inner city and adjoining suburban areas, have reportedly recorded multiple dengue cases. Residents in some neighborhoods have also claimed that several households have been affected.
The reports have raised concerns about possible mosquito breeding sites and continued community transmission. However, these local reports could not independently be verified.
Public concern has also intensified following reports of the alleged deaths of two young men from complications associated with dengue fever. The circumstances and causes of the reported deaths could not independently be established.
Residents have urged authorities to intensify preventive measures and move beyond routine case surveillance toward sustained, targeted dengue-control operations.
They have called for detailed mapping of dengue hotspots, intensified larval surveillance, removal of mosquito breeding sites, effective anti-mosquito spraying, improved sanitation and regular monitoring of affected neighborhoods.
Residents have also emphasized the need for coordinated efforts involving the health department, district administration, municipal authorities and other relevant agencies, warning that sporadic or fragmented interventions may not be sufficient to curb transmission.
The latest provincial figures highlight the disproportionate burden being reported in Kohat, where confirmed dengue infections have crossed the 1,000 mark.
The health authorities’ latest field-level response, as well as the precise circumstances surrounding the reported deaths, could not independently be established.
