Dengue fever cases have continued to rise in Rawalpindi, with 35 new cases confirmed in the last 24 hours on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases this season to 1734. The health department has warned that the number of cases is likely to continue to rise in the coming weeks, as the city is currently experiencing its monsoon season. Mosquitoes, which transmit the dengue virus, breed in stagnant water, which is plentiful in Rawalpindi during the monsoon season.

Four of the dengue patients are currently in critical condition and are being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Benazir Bhutto Hospital. The remaining 68 patients are in stable condition and are being treated in different hospitals across the city. So far this season, 1666 patients have recovered from dengue fever and been discharged from hospitals. However, the health department has urged residents to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, such as using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and avoiding going out during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

 Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)