The Punjab provincial government has imposed emergency measures to stave off the spread of the disease.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has fixed the fee for dengue blood test at Rs. 90 in private laboratories to deal with the growing number of dengue patients. These facilities have been warned of strict action if they charge more.

Dengue fever is caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains and a skin rash similar to measles. Patients suffer from bleeding and low blood pressure when it reaches the life-threatening stage.