Dengue fever: Pakistan’s worst nightmare

Shakoor, Muhammad Tariq; Ayub, Samia; Ayub, Zunaira

doi:10.4103/2224-3151.207018

Cited by 21 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Since that time, dengue has increasingly been recognized as an important health care issue [8][9][10]. A dengue epidemic occurred in Rawalpindi, Pakistan from July to December of 2013 [11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dengue hemorrhagic fever: Comparison of patients with primary and secondary infections

Khurram

Qayyum

Hassan

et al. 2014

Journal of Infection and Public Health

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dengue hemorrhagic fever: Comparison of patients with primary and secondary infections

Khurram

Qayyum

Hassan

et al. 2014

Journal of Infection and Public Health

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“…Although Pakistan is one of the hotspots for mosquito-vectored diseases [2], [3], mosquito biodiversity in the country is under-explored [4]. However, the recent outbreaks of dengue in Pakistan [5] have generated interest in mosquito distributions in this region [6]–[8]. Among the 3500 mosquito species recorded worldwide (www.mosquito-taxonomic-inventory.info) 104 have been documented from Pakistan and Bangladesh [4], but their morphological identification remains difficult.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analyzing Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Diversity in Pakistan by DNA Barcoding

et al. 2014

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BackgroundAlthough they are important disease vectors mosquito biodiversity in Pakistan is poorly known. Recent epidemics of dengue fever have revealed the need for more detailed understanding of the diversity and distributions of mosquito species in this region. DNA barcoding improves the accuracy of mosquito inventories because morphological differences between many species are subtle, leading to misidentifications.Methodology/Principal FindingsSequence variation in the barcode region of the mitochondrial COI gene was used to identify mosquito species, reveal genetic diversity, and map the distribution of the dengue-vector species in Pakistan. Analysis of 1684 mosquitoes from 491 sites in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during 2010–2013 revealed 32 species with the assemblage dominated by Culex quinquefasciatus (61% of the collection). The genus Aedes (Stegomyia) comprised 15% of the specimens, and was represented by six taxa with the two dengue vector species, Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti, dominant and broadly distributed. Anopheles made up another 6% of the catch with An. subpictus dominating. Barcode sequence divergence in conspecific specimens ranged from 0–2.4%, while congeneric species showed from 2.3–17.8% divergence. A global haplotype analysis of disease-vectors showed the presence of multiple haplotypes, although a single haplotype of each dengue-vector species was dominant in most countries. Geographic distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus showed the later species was dominant and found in both rural and urban environments.ConclusionsAs the first DNA-based analysis of mosquitoes in Pakistan, this study has begun the construction of a barcode reference library for the mosquitoes of this region. Levels of genetic diversity varied among species. Because of its capacity to differentiate species, even those with subtle morphological differences, DNA barcoding aids accurate tracking of vector populations.

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“…A massive outbreak in 2011 in Punjab province affected more than 21,597 individuals and claimed 365 precious lives [12]. Since then, every year thousands of positive cases and hundreds of deaths have been reported [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dengue Outbreak Response and Control in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: A Mixed Methods Study

Mohamud¹,

Qazi²,

Latif³

et al. 2019

JEGH

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Background: Since 2008, dengue fever outbreaks had occurred repeatedly in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. Most importantly the outbreak of 2017 caused 70 deaths, about 121,083 suspected and 24,938 confirmed cases in 23 districts of KP. In 2018, an abrupt decline in suspected and confirmed dengue cases was observed and 2018 was declared as dengue outbreak free. This study characterizes and explores the control and response measure activities of the outbreak. In addition, we explored the challenges faced and lessons learned for control of future dengue outbreaks from the perspectives of health authorities and dengue response staff in the KP province of Pakistan. Methods: This was a mixed methods study with quantitative data on dengue outbreaks obtained from health department in KP followed by qualitative study to explore activities and responses that enabled the Dengue Response Unit (DRU) for a successful dengue outbreak control in 2018. In-depth interviews were conducted with the key informants from the department of health and the dengue response unit. Results: The quantitative data analysis revealed a huge decline of suspected and confirmed dengue cases in comparison with the previous year in most of the KP districts. A similar decline in dengue reported cases was also observed from previously high dengue burden 14 union counsels of Peshawar district. Among the 70 verified deaths in 2017, 44 (63%) were males and 26 (37%) were females. The cases were about 20% each from age groups of 21-30, 41-50, and 51-60 years. The qualitative study findings showed four prominent major themes for successful control: (1) control and response strategy; (2) organizing specific dengue control and response intervention activities; (3) addressing dengue control and response challenges; and (4) generating lesson for future dengue control and response.

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Dengue fever: Pakistan’s worst nightmare

Cited by 21 publications

References 2 publications

Dengue hemorrhagic fever: Comparison of patients with primary and secondary infections

Dengue hemorrhagic fever: Comparison of patients with primary and secondary infections

Analyzing Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Diversity in Pakistan by DNA Barcoding

Dengue Outbreak Response and Control in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: A Mixed Methods Study

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