Punjab’s Smog Crisis: Over 61,000 Respiratory Cases Reported in a Day
— November 24, 2024
LAHORE (AIA) The smog crisis in Punjab has reached critical levels, severely impacting public health across the province. On Saturday alone, 61,024 cases of respiratory diseases were reported, according to the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department. Hospitals recorded 4,211 asthma cases, 2,105 ischaemic heart disease cases, 181 strokes, and 385 conjunctivitis cases within the last 24 hours, underscoring the worsening health emergency.
In the past 30 days, approximately 1.92 million individuals sought treatment for smog-related illnesses in Punjab. Hospitals reported 125,520 asthma cases, 60,966 ischaemic heart disease cases, 5,701 strokes, and 14,007 conjunctivitis cases during this period. The past week alone saw 455,283 respiratory cases, 31,034 asthma cases, 13,479 ischaemic heart disease cases, 1,360 strokes, and 4,121 conjunctivitis cases, highlighting the escalating strain on the healthcare system.
Lahore remains the epicentre of the crisis. Over the last month, the city reported 132,569 respiratory disease cases, 6,613 asthma cases, 13,585 ischaemic heart disease cases, 706 strokes, and 3,269 conjunctivitis cases. In the past week, Lahore recorded 34,830 respiratory cases, 2,262 asthma cases, 2,804 ischaemic heart disease cases, 302 strokes, and 1,528 conjunctivitis cases. On Saturday alone, Lahore saw 3,690 respiratory cases, 209 asthma cases, 552 ischaemic heart disease cases, 56 strokes, and 63 conjunctivitis cases, reinforcing the urgency of the situation.
In response, the Punjab government has assured citizens that hospitals are adequately equipped to handle the influx of patients. Authorities are urging the public to take precautions, such as wearing masks, limiting outdoor activities, and using air purifiers to reduce health risks. As smog levels persist, public cooperation is vital to alleviating the crisis. The government continues to implement pollution control measur