Authorities identify nearly 2,200 dengue breeding sites as infections cross 90 mark in the district.

MULTAN: Dengue infections are rising sharply across Multan district, placing a heavy burden on hospitals and triggering a renewed anti-larva campaign as health authorities move urgently to contain the mosquito-borne disease.

Over the past week, local hospitals have reported a significant surge in dengue admissions, with several wards nearing capacity. Teams from the District Health Authority (DHA) said they have identified and cleared thousands of mosquito breeding sites across residential and commercial areas.

At Nishtar Hospital, the region’s largest tertiary care facility, 12 patients have tested positive for dengue while 29 suspected cases await laboratory confirmation. Out of the 70 beds allocated for dengue treatment, 41 are currently occupied.

Member of National Assembly (MNA) Ali Kasim Gilani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stated on social media platform X that 30 dengue cases had been reported in his constituency in a single day. He said he had written to Deputy Commissioner Wasim Hamid Sandhu to implement immediate preventive measures.

Private hospitals and clinics across the district have also begun receiving an increasing number of suspected dengue patients.

Health officials confirmed that 92 dengue cases have been recorded in Multan so far this year. Anti-dengue teams have eliminated larvae at 3,989 locations and identified 2,195 potential breeding hotspots. A total of 352 field teams are currently engaged in indoor and outdoor surveillance, with Special Secretary for Health and Population Muhammad Shahbaz Hussain stating that efforts were being scaled up to achieve “100 percent coverage” of all identified sites.

Hospitals, including Government Shehbaz Sharif Hospital, have activated dedicated dengue counters for fast-track testing and triage of suspected cases. The DHQ Hospital is coordinating with Nishtar and other facilities to manage patient overflow, as clinicians warn of diagnostic delays and limited testing capacity.

Medical staff have raised concerns that some samples are still routed through central laboratories despite the availability of point-of-care testing machines, a bottleneck that can delay platelet monitoring and treatment.

Meanwhile, local authorities have taken legal action against businesses found violating dengue control protocols. FIRs have been registered against three restaurants and two factories where dengue larvae were discovered, while over 120 notices have been issued to other non-compliant entities.

Public health teams have urged residents to drain standing water, cover storage tanks, and report potential larva sites, stressing that community cooperation is critical to halting the spread. With the weather conditions ideal for mosquito breeding, officials warned that continued vigilance and preventive action are essential to avert a wider outbreak.