Dengue larvae in pools of freezing water mystify health officials

Pindi health authorities decide to enlist help from food authority for comprehensive campaign

RAWALPINDI: Despite freezing temperatures, health officials in Rawalpindi continue to detect dengue larvae across the city.

Curiously, the larvae have been found in pools of water which had sub-zero temperatures.

The discovery has left health officials in Rawalpindi worried who said that the water had temperatures of -1 and -2 inside and outside homes.

Further, the discovery of the dengue larvae has raised suspicions over the efficacy of the ongoing anti-dengue campaign as well.

The health department, though, has decided to continue with its anti-dengue campaign and have sped up the search for larvae by its mobile survey teams.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Saima Younus has also instructed the health officers to make comprehensive arrangements for the upcoming dengue season. In a meeting with health officials of the district, it was disclosed that the anti-dengue campaign in Rawalpindi with a new set of measures is expected to commence from February 15, in which 1,600 workers will participate.

The campaign will primarily target those areas where the dengue larva was found last year. Moreover, the campaign will continue around the clock.

To make the campaign more effective, the district health authorities have sought the help of the food authority to check establishments within its jurisdiction for dengue larvae.

To destroy the larvae, chemicals will be sprayed while larvae-eating ducks and fishes will be introduced in pods and large water catchments and reservoirs.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2019.