Dengue in Pakistan: KP passes 2,900 cases, a death in Landi Kotal, new cases in Taxila and Rawalpindi — how to protect your family

Key takeaways

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's health department reported 142 new dengue infections in 24 hours, taking the province's confirmed 2026 total to 2,912. Of these, 174 patients are under treatment and 2,738 have recovered.
• Kohat is by far the worst-hit district with 1,824 cases, followed by Peshawar (419), Bannu (122), Khyber (101), Haripur (77) and Charsadda (54).
• A young man from Bacha Maina near the Torkham border, named by relatives and health officials as Khurshid Shinwari, died of dengue on Thursday. The provincial tally still lists no dengue deaths for the year, so this case may not yet be in the official figures.
• Taxila has five confirmed cases, and Dawn reports that larvicide spraying at 97 identified breeding hotspots has not been carried out. Rawalpindi district has 42 confirmed cases this year, 12 of them in October.
• Dengue season in Pakistan usually peaks in October and eases in November as temperatures fall.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a high fever, see a doctor.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Kohat drives the numbers

The latest KP Health Department bulletin, reported by Pakhtun Digital on Saturday, shows the province's caseload still climbing. Kohat alone accounts for nearly two-thirds of all confirmed infections. Provincial officials say no dengue death has been recorded in KP this year.

That claim sits uneasily with news from Khyber district. The Nation reports that the Tehsil Municipal Administration in Landi Kotal carried out anti-mosquito fogging in Bacha Maina, Landi Kotal Bazaar and other densely populated areas on Friday, a day after Khurshid Shinwari of Bacha Maina died of dengue fever according to his family and health officials. Tehsil Municipal Officer Abdul Waseem Khan called the fogging a preventive step and asked residents to report any area at risk so it can be treated quickly.

The dengue ward in-charge at Landi Kotal's District Headquarters Hospital said 17 cases were recorded there in September and seven so far in October, from areas including Khuga Khel, Pero Khel, Mukhtiar Khel and Zakha Khel. Medical Superintendent Dr Jameel Ahmad said a 14-bed isolation ward has been set up for dengue patients.

Taxila and Wah: cases confirmed, spraying lagging

Dawn's correspondent in Taxila reports five confirmed dengue patients registered with the local health department and being treated at government facilities including in Rawalpindi, with more suspected cases in private hospitals in Taxila and Wah. Cases have come from wards 7, 8 and 9 and union council Wah in Wah Cantonment, and from union council Sarai Kala in Taxila.

Health sources told the paper that 97 breeding sites have been identified, including 15 in UC Jalla, 14 in UC Gari Sikandar, eight in UC Thatta Khalil and five in UC Khurram Paracha, but that larvicide sprinkling by both the health department (responsible for six rural union councils) and the TMA (four urban ones) had so far happened "only on paper". Tehsil entomologist Mian Israr Ali confirmed the five positive cases and said indoor and outdoor surveillance was under way, with indoor residual spray done daily wherever positive larvae are found. He urged residents to take precautions.

Rawalpindi: 42 cases, no deaths

According to District Health Authority data reported by ProPakistani, Rawalpindi district had 42 confirmed infections for the year as of 6 October, with 12 of them in October. Ten confirmed patients were in hospital isolation wards, screenings had passed 5,100 and suspected cases stood at 4,762. No dengue deaths have been reported in the district in 2026.

October's infections came from Chaklala Cantonment, Wah Cantt, Adyala, Fouji Colony, Pindora, Dhama Syedan, Qayumabad, Chah Sultan, Dhamyal and CTR-II. Surveillance teams found 1,982 additional larva-positive sites over two days, with the heaviest concentrations in Chaklala Cantonment, Takhat Pari and Rawalpindi Cantonment. Enforcement so far includes 2,798 FIRs, 686 premises sealed and fines of Rs3.15 million.

Why cases rise now

Dengue is spread by the Aedes mosquito, which breeds in clean standing water and bites mainly during the day. The weeks after the monsoon, when rainwater collects in containers, tyres, flowerpots, uncovered tanks and construction sites, are the peak transmission period in Pakistan. Warm, humid weather through October keeps the mosquito active; cases usually drop as nights turn cold in November.

Symptoms to watch for

Dengue typically starts two to seven days after a bite with sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea and sometimes a rash. Most people recover in about a week, but a small number develop severe dengue. Warning signs include persistent vomiting, severe stomach pain, bleeding from the gums or nose, blood in vomit or stool, extreme tiredness and restlessness. These need urgent hospital care. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen for a suspected dengue fever, as they can worsen bleeding; paracetamol is the usual choice, but ask a doctor.

How to lower your risk

• Empty, scrub and cover anything that holds water: buckets, coolers, flowerpot trays, tyres, drums and rooftop tanks. Do this at least once a week.
• Use mosquito repellent and wear long sleeves and trousers during the day, especially in the morning and late afternoon.
• Fit window screens and use a net for daytime naps, particularly for children and the elderly.
• Report stagnant water, junkyards and open construction pits to your local TMA or health office. Punjab runs a 1033 helpline for dengue complaints.
• If you have fever, get a CBC and dengue test early and keep drinking fluids.

What to watch

• Whether the Landi Kotal death is added to KP's official count and whether Kohat's daily numbers start to fall.
• Whether Taxila and Wah authorities begin the larvicide spraying that Dawn says has not happened.
• Daily bulletins from Punjab and Sindh, where Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi usually see the highest numbers in October.