The current surge in cases follows unprecedented flooding that began in mid-June 2022.

Punjab reported two deaths while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh recorded one death each, according to the provincial health departments.

"With the current flood crisis affecting the national health system capacity and the growing humanitarian situation, there is a high risk of serious health impacts from dengue fever and other concurrent disease outbreaks," the World Health Organization said.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The primary vectors that transmit the disease are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and, to a lesser extent, Ae. Albopictus, according to the World Health Organization.

Severe dengue is a leading cause of serious illness and death in some Asian and Latin American countries. It requires management by medical professionals.

The number of dengue cases reported to WHO increased over 8-fold over the last two decades, from 505,430 cases in 2000 to over 2.4 million in 2010, and 5.2 million in 2019.

Reported deaths between the years 2000 and 2015 increased from 960 to 4032, affecting mostly the younger age group. (ILKHA)