The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a public alert urging citizens to take preventive measures against dengue, as infections caused by Aedes mosquitoes continue to surge across the country.

In a handout released on Thursday, the ministry said the number of dengue cases has risen sharply in recent weeks, with both public and private hospitals reporting an alarming increase in patient admissions.

To raise awareness, the ministry directed all public and private electronic media outlets to broadcast dengue prevention messages regularly and free of cost in public interest.

The awareness campaign urges people to seek immediate medical attention and undergo dengue tests at the first sign of fever, strictly follow doctors’ advice and keep their surroundings clean by removing stagnant water from homes, under-construction sites and educational institutions.

The ministry also advised the use of mosquito nets during both day and night and reminded the public not to ignore post-recovery care.

It recommended consulting doctors promptly to prevent complications following recovery from fever.