Breeding grounds: Ferozewala, Muridke high-risk areas for dengue fever

Cabinet Committee discusses <br /> anti-dengue measurers.


September 18, 2014

LAHORE: Muridke and Ferozewala, adjoining areas of Lahore, are high-risk areas for dengue due to stagnant floodwaters there.

This was stated by Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique on Wednesday while addressing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Dengue at the Civil Secretariat.

“Due to stagnant floodwaters in Muridke and Ferozwala, there has been an increase in the number of dengue patients in these areas. Cases of dengue larvae detection have also increased,” Rafique said. He directed the tehsil administration officials to accelerate anti-dengue activities in these areas.

He said that 80 per cent dengue larvae detected so far was found in room-coolers. “People should drain the water from room-coolers to prevent the spread of dengue mosquitoes,” he said.

“All government departments, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, are making unprecedented efforts to control dengue,” he said.

Rafique said that dengue was a social problem. “Community mobilisation is essential to overcome dengue,” he said.

He directed School Education and Higher Education departments to chalk out a comprehensive programme of social work involving Intermediate students. “These students will visit houses in their localities, accompanied by their teachers, and raise public awareness and community mobilisation,” he said.

Lahore DCO Capt (retd) Muhammad Usman informed the meeting that more than 21,000 houses were checked on September 16 in Lahore. “Dengue larvae was detected at 119 houses,” he said.

“Similarly, outdoor dengue surveillance was carried out at more than 8,000 places and dengue larvae were found at 73 places,” Usman said. He said that 190 FIRs had been registered against people who failed to adopt anti-dengue measures. “Twenty-eight arrests have also been made in Lahore for violating dengue regulations since September 1,” Usman said.

Health Vector Born Disease Additional Director General Dr Islam Zafar informed the meeting that 61 confirmed dengue patients had been reported until September 16. “During the same period last year, 139 dengue cases were reported. Nine dengue patients are under treatment in Mayo Hospital and four at Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. Condition of all them is out of danger,” he said.

Director General Health Dr Zahid Pervez, town officers and dengue experts also attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2014.

 

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