50 more entomologists deployed for vector surveillance in cantonments

Monitoring teams unable to access prohibited areas, DC asks officials to discuss issue with RCB

RAWALPINDI: Owing to the increased risk of dengue outbreak in cantonment areas, the district health authority has sent a team of 20 doctors and 50 entomologists for monitoring, surveillance and preventive measures.

“Additional human resource, well experienced in anti-dengue efforts, is being deployed for monitoring and control in the cantonment areas,” said District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Khalid Mehmood.



He was speaking at the meeting of District Emergency Response Committee chaired by Deputy Commissioner Umer Jahangir.

Dr Mehmood told the meeting that so far among 1,715 suspected patients, 191 have tested positive for dengue virus.

He said that hectic efforts were underway for door-to-door checking for dengue larvae. From October 12 to 15, indoor vector surveillance teams checked 31,584 houses in areas under control of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, Chaklala Cantonment Board and Potohar Town. Of these houses, dengue larvae were detected in 864 houses.

In the same areas, 225 dengue surveillance teams conducted outdoor checking at 218545 spots. In the four day exercise, 24 spots were found spawning dengue larvae.

Although the number of dengue patients was alarming, but no fatality has been reported  so far as health department is on high alert to cope with any situation.

Present weather was suitable for breeding of dengue larvae and the number was continuously increasing.



According to District HealthAuthority focal person, most cases were being reported from cantonment and federal capital because surveillance teams could not access sensitive locations. There were many high-security places where health officials could not go for monitoring and control activities.

He said that the Deputy Commissioner Umer Jahangir has directed the officials concerned to complete the updated report of dengue surveillance and send it to Station Commander Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) for carrying out surveillance in prohibited areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2018.