Dengue epidemic: Over 6,000 people test positive in KP, death toll rises to 18

PESHAWAR: Dengue virus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has claimed 18 lives in two months and more than 6,000 people have tested positive for the virus.

The total tally due to the virus climbed to 18 in the province when a woman, man and minor under treatment for dengue virus in Khyber Teaching Hospital succumbed to the disease on September 5.

Authorities have found dengue larvae in water samples in various areas of the city, including Tahkal, Sufaid Dheri, Shadi Peer and Palosi.

The virus has also spread to other towns and cities of the province, with areas including Buner, Swabi and Mardan reporting various cases.

Experts, whose help has been sought to fight the virus, sid that old tyres in the district have served as the breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes. They also believe the mosquitoes breeding in the area could spread across the country.

The Peshawar district administration has said several teams were working towards eradicating the dengue virus and have fumigated over 15,000 houses so far in an attempt to kill dengue mosquitoes.