Sindh emerges as Pakistan’s dengue hotspot as estimated cases surge to 3.2m: Study

Sindh has emerged as Pakistan’s highest-burden dengue hotspot, accounting for an estimated 2.63 million cases in 2022, as the nationwide burden of the mosquito-borne disease surged from approximately 100,000 cases in 2012 to an estimated 3.2 million in 2022, according to a recent study. The study by Aga Khan University (AKU) and its partners found that Sindh recorded the country’s highest dengue incidence at 45.63 cases per 1,000 population, with the disease mainly affecting adults aged 15-49 years. “The unique feature of this study is its innovative use of routinely collected clinical laboratory data from three nationwide diagnostic laboratory networks to estimate the incidence of dengue fever in Pakistan,” Professor Erum Khan, chair of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at AKU, was quoted as saying.