38 more check in, amid official claims of dengue control

PHA team attacked by snake during anti-dengue operation

RAWALPINDI: The district administration on Saturday claimed that its efforts to curtail the dengue virus in the garrison city have overall shown commendable results.

Over 90 percent of the areas in the city have been reported as being dengue-free. The threat of the virus has become limited to Airport Housing Society, Gulbahar Colony and adjoining private housing schemes within the jurisdiction of Potohar Town.

Most of the patients reportedly found to be dengue positive hailed from areas of Potohar Town while less than 10 patients were reported from other vicinities.

The three medical camps established by the district administration continued providing free blood-test services to citizens for the ninth consecutive day while other departments taking part in the anti-dengue crash programme are also performing their duties effectively.

33 more test positive for dengue fever

However, the inflow of dengue patients continued in three allied hospitals including Benazir Bhutto General hospital (BBGH), Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital.

During the last 24-hours, up to 38 patients from Kot Jabbi, Gulbahar Colony, Airport Housing society and Wakeel Colony were brought to public hospitals with complaints of the virus while only nine of them tested positive.

Furthermore, two patients each were reported from Chakalala and Rawalpindi Cantonment Boards, one from Rawal Town and four from Gujjar Khan while no other patient was brought from other areas.

Meanwhile, the district administration has directed the related departments taking part in the anti-dengue operation to carry out all essential anti-dengue operations as well as in areas reported no sign of the dengue threat.

It has also been noted that dengue surveillance is underway in cantonment areas but the teams are facing difficulties because they are presently ill-equipped. Both cantonment boards are facing shortage of fogging machines and related material.

A safe habitat

Poor sanitation in pedestrian underpass at Shamsabad Murree Road has become a breeding ground for dengue larvae. People including students and women have to cross the path by calculatedly placing their feet on bricks kept for crossing stagnant water.

Apart from this, the poor cleanliness in the underpass has created and odor, making it impossible for citizens to cross the path without covering their nose.

The related institutions have taken no action to make arrangements for de-watering the underpass.

Dengue patient dies in Rawalpindi

Teams attacked

Teams of Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) surely stirred up a hornet’s nest while conducting anti-dengue action in Potohar Town.

According to the details, the teams led by PHA Assistant Director Basheer Muhammad Khan, were cutting grass when suddenly, they were attacked by a snake. Acting bravely, PHA member Farrukh Shehzad, got hold of snake and killed it.

The teams continued their operation after this act of bravery when once again the team was attacked by hornets and members including Farrukh Shehzad, Muhammad Rizwan, Mohsin Ali, Rizwan Safri and Yasir Mehmood got injured. However, the team carried on the operation and cleared the related area of grass and bushes.

Later, two team members were shifted to the hospital as they fell sick apparently due to a dengue-mosquito bite.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2019.