Dengue fever control: Various depts directed to continue dengue surveillance activities

FIRs should be filed against owners of junkyards in case of larvae detection.

LAHORE:

Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Salman Rafique directed all departments and institutions concerned to continue vigorous dengue fever surveillance activities. He said citizens should remove dengue breeding hot spots from their houses, and a red sticker would be pasted on any house where dengue larvae were found. Rafique was presiding over a cabinet committee meeting on dengue eradication on Tuesday.

Dengue surveillance activities and awareness seminars are being carried out in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala districts. As a result of these activities, dengue larvae have been found in some areas. Rafique directed dengue fever counters and wards to be made functional in hospitals.

Institute of Public Health Epidemiologist Farkhanda Kokab said that because it was not dengue season as yet, dengue larvae have been found in small concentrations, and dengue patients would also be reported in low numbers. In monsoon season, however, dengue larvae would grow substantially and all the departments concerned should prepare themselves to combat the situation.

Health Secretary Ijaz Munir, Lahore District Coordination Officer Ahmed Javed Qazi, Faisalabad DCO Noorul Amin Mengal, the Forests secretary, and officers from the Environment, Auqaf, Schools and Higher Education and Social Welfare Departments were briefed regarding the activities of their respective departments for dengue control.

Nazir proposed that junkyards be registered, as during the rainy season these become a major source of dengue breeding.

Rafique agreed with this proposal and directed the environment protection secretary to begin registration. He said FIRs should be filed against the owners of commercial buildings, construction sites and junkyards in case of larvae detection. He said everybody should fulfill their responsibilities for the eradication of dengue.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2014.