Lahore Reports 15,000 Respiratory Cases In A Day, NASA Shares Smog Photo

Pakistan's Lahore is currently grappling with a severe smog crisis, which has worsened in recent days, triggering a dramatic rise in respiratory and viral infections. According to reports from ARY News, over 15,000 cases were reported in just a 24-hour period, overwhelming the city’s hospitals.The situation is particularly dire in major government hospitals, which are struggling to cope with the influx of patients suffering from a range of respiratory ailments. Mayo Hospital alone saw more than 4,000 patients, while Jinnah Hospital treated approximately 3,500 individuals. Gangaram Hospital and Children's Hospital also reported significant numbers, with 3,000 and 2,000 patients, respectively.The ongoing smog has been linked to a surge in cases of dry cough, breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and chest infections. Medical experts have raised alarm over the vulnerability of certain groups, particularly children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Dr Ashraf Zia, a prominent medical professional in Lahore, highlighted that "special children" are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of the pollution.In addition to respiratory issues, the smog has also led to an increase in various viral diseases, including pneumonia, chest infections, and skin conditions. According to experts, over 10 viral diseases are currently circulating in Lahore, further burdening an already strained healthcare system.Authorities in Pakistan are taking urgent measures to address the smog crisis, which has become a growing public health threat. However, despite these efforts, the situation remains critical, with health professionals warning of further challenges if the pollution levels continue to rise.These include the imposition of a 3-month ban on weddings to the release of new guidelines by the transport department in response to the situation of smog in most parts of the province. Other measures include the Pakistan Punjab government closing schools and colleges in the state.The severe smog which now engulfs northern Pakistan was also reported by NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)."A thick blanket of sky-soiling smog hung over northern Pakistan in early November 2024, causing air quality to plummet, schools to close, and sending hundreds of people to the hospital", NASA MODIS said.It also made note of the plummeting levels of AQI in the country. "According to several news reports, the Air Quality Index in parts of the Punjab region of Pakistan spiked to more than 1,900 on November 10".It reported Pakistani media sources who announced that Pakistan's Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority had declared smog a "calamity" and instituted emergency measures."On November 12, the Punjab government website advised that the AQI for the province over last 24 hours had averaged 604--well into the Hazardous range", NASA MODIS said.Speaking on the thick layer of pollution, NASA MODIS reported, "The tan haze is so thick that it completely obscures the landscape of Pakistan from view. Irregular patches of a lighter color indicate that fog hugs the ground underneath the haze. The city of Lahore, Pakistan--which has ranked as the most polluted city in the world in recent days--is located near the northeastern edge of the fog".(Inputs from ANI)