Survey identifies mosquito-breeding spots in Karachi

Officials obtain help of environmental experts, entomologists to plan the fumigation drives

KARACHI: The Sindh Prevention and Control Program of Dengue (PCPD) has identified several mosquito pockets in the port city, where its officials have launched fumigation drives.

According to the PCPD officials, they have identified mosquito breeding points in Karachi through a survey, whose results were analysed through the DIMAS software. The officials also obtained the help of environmental experts and entomologists to plan the fumigation drives. The agency has now started fumigation, besides launching awareness programmes and also spraying larvicides in these areas.

Sindh PCPD Program Manager Dr Mehmood Iqbal Memon said that some of the localities they had identified were Ayesha Manzil, Karimabad, Azizabad and Gulberg areas in District Central. Meanwhile, Keamari, Machar Colony,  Ittehad Town, Baldia UC-1 and Gulshan-e-Ghazi were identified as high-risk areas in  District West, and Mehmodabad, PECHS, Jamshed Quarters, Garden East, Solider Bazaar, Pehlwan Goth and Gulshan-e-Iqbal UC-5 in District East. Dr Iqbal said that the PCPD teams have already started fumigation in the high-risk areas. Awareness sessions have also been started to prevent the spread of the dengue virus.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2019.