PTI govt committed to eradicating dengue, says Zafar Mirza

Number of dengue virus infected people in Islamabad and Rawalpindi exceedes 17,000

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: As government pinned hopes on nature to end dengue after spending billions of rupees in prevention and surveillance, the deadly virus claimed another life on Tuesday.

While body of 18-year-old Mujtaba Haider of Adyala Road was being handed over to relatives at District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospoital, in Rawalpindi, Special Assistant to PM Dr Zafar Mirza was telling a high level meeting in Islamabad that government has earmarked Rs19.64 million for dengue eradication plan in the twin cities.

With 52 deaths, the number of dengue virus infected people in Islamabad and Rawalpindi has exceeded 17,000. Over 10,000 patients have been diagnosed with dengue in Islamabad so far according to the latest Dengue Cell report. During the last 24 hours, 87 patients from Rawalpindi have been diagnosed positive for dengue virus.

Chairing the dengue daily review meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, Dr Mirza said dengue cases have significantly been reduced due to joint efforts. Mirza said a major project has been launched to check dengue in Rawalpindi and Islamabad for which, government has earmarked Rs19.64 million. He said that over 200,000 people will benefit from this project.

Earlier, he chaired a high-level meeting at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) for Polio in Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2019.