Infection count: 129 more dengue cases reported in Lahore

Health Department directed to also spray houses where cases occurred.

LAHORE:

Another 129 people tested positive for the Dengue infection in hospitals across the city on Tuesday.

Nine cases were reported from other Punjab cities. The number of total cases reported so far in Punjab has reached 664, a report by Health Department said.

(Read: Once bitten: Dengue threat looms)

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed on Tuesday that all resources be utilised for controlling the disease and warned that no negligence in this regard would be tolerated.

He also assigned ministers and MPAs to personally supervise the campaign against dengue and visit hospitals to monitor treatment facilities for dengue patients.

Provincial Minister for Education Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, National Assembly member Muhammad Afzal Khokhar Provincial Assembly members Dr Tahir Ali Javed, Dr Saeed Elahi, Health Secretary, Information Secretary and Lahore District Coordination Officer present at the meeting chaired by CM to review the arrangement.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister directed that Health Department, Local Government Department and district administration fully mobilise their manpower for anti mosquito spray. He said that besides public places, spray should also be conducted in houses where dengue cases had occurred. He directed the Health Secretary to personally visit Gujranwala and Faisalabad to review the arrangements against dengue. He said that Local Government Secretary should visit various districts to monitor the arrangements to contain the spread of disease.

Earlier, Health Secretary Jehanzeb Khan informed the meeting about the measures taken for controlling dengue. He said arrangements had been made for the treatment of patients in all public hospitals.

District Coordination Officer Ahad Khan Cheema informed the meeting that a town-a-day spray in Lahore will be completed by August 29.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2011.