Dengue fever outbreak in Pakistani city kills 17

Health officials have declared a high alert in the city's hospitals after about 250 people tested positive for the disease, they said.

"We have had 17 reported deaths from the virus in various hospitals," Abdul Majid, additional secretary for health in the southern province of Sindh, told Reuters. Karachi is the provincial capital.

"It is not a panic-like situation but yes, in the last few weeks cases have been increasing on a daily basis," he said.

Opposition politicians, some aid workers and the media have criticised the city government for not anticipating the disease after the rainy season and for not carrying out proper fumigation drives.