Authorities step up anti-dengue measures ahead of peak season in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Peshawar Division has launched an accelerated drive against dengue, activating the Dengue Action Plan 2026 to prevent the spread of the virus amid recent rains and the approaching peak season.

The initiative was outlined during a high-level meeting chaired by Commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud, attended by Deputy Commissioners, District Health Officers, Chief Executives of Water and Sanitation Services, and representatives from Tehsil Municipal Administrations across Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mohmand Tribal District, and Khyber district.

Officials reviewed the implementation of the plan, including field surveillance, cleanliness campaigns, and public awareness initiatives already underway. The plan focuses on multi-sectoral collaboration to control dengue through coordinated departmental efforts, environmental management, vector monitoring, rapid response, capacity building, and community engagement.

Structured in three phases—pre-season (February–June), peak season (July–November), and post-season (December–January)—the strategy includes daily vector surveillance, immediate fogging in hotspots, larval control, and hospital preparedness. Analysis of past outbreaks shows a surge in cases from August to October, highlighting the need for intensified early measures.

Commissioner Mehsud directed all departments to expedite preventive actions, emphasizing prompt drainage of stagnant water after rainfall and immediate anti-dengue spraying to prevent mosquito breeding. He stressed the importance of house-to-house awareness campaigns supervised by entomologists, supported by print, electronic, and social media outreach.

“All line departments must carry out their duties without delay,” he said, warning that negligence in cleanliness, water drainage, larval eradication, or surveillance would result in strict disciplinary action.

The meeting also reviewed emergency preparedness, including the establishment of an Emergency Response Cell, rapid mobilization of resources, daily reporting, and targeted fogging in high-risk areas. Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated efforts to ensure effective dengue control and a safe environment for the public.