The Punjab Health Department confirmed a significant increase in dengue virus cases on Thursday, with 126 new infections reported across the province in just 24 hours.

Rawalpindi was the most affected city, recording 107 cases, followed by Lahore with six, Gujranwala with three, and two cases each in Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Attock. Additionally, single cases were reported in Jehlum, Kasur, Multan, and Mandi Bahauddin.

This recent spike has brought the total number of dengue infections in Punjab to 528 over the past week, raising the province’s total cases for 2024 to 1,371.

A spokesperson from the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department assured the public that hospitals are adequately prepared with the necessary medicines and treatments to address the outbreak.

In response to the rising number of cases, the Health Department issued an advisory urging citizens to maintain clean and dry surroundings to help curb the spread of dengue. The public is encouraged to cooperate with health teams actively working to control the outbreak.

A free helpline (1033) has been established for individuals seeking treatment, information, or wishing to register complaints. Health officials emphasized the importance of vigilance and proactive measures in containing the virus.