PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has declared Peshawar’s Sufaid Dheri area an outbreak zone after confirming 16 cases of chikungunya virus, prompting immediate containment measures.
According to Health Secretary Shahidullah Khan, several suspected fever cases were reported from the area a few days ago. A medical team collected 21 samples, which were sent to the Public Health Reference Lab for analysis. Test results confirmed 16 positive cases of chikungunya.
Following the confirmation, an advisory was issued to the District Health Officer (DHO) Peshawar to initiate prompt preventive action. The Health Department has established a control room at the DHO office to monitor the situation and coordinate response efforts.
Epidemiological investigations have begun to identify the sources and causes of the virus’s spread. In addition, vector control operations such as fogging and larviciding are being conducted to curb mosquito breeding.
Public awareness campaigns are also underway to educate residents on preventive measures, while diagnostic kits and medicines have been supplied to local health centers.
The Health Department stated that daily reports will be sent to the Directorate General of Health Services to ensure close monitoring of the outbreak.
A department spokesperson said that strict contact tracing and surveillance of affected individuals are being carried out to limit the spread within the union council.
Authorities have urged citizens to take precautions against mosquito bites and minimize unnecessary movement, assuring that all available resources are being utilized to control the outbreak.
