42 new dengue cases surface in Rawalpindi

174 FIRs registered against violators of anti-dengue SOPs

RAWALPINDI:

At least 42 more dengue cases were reported in the Rawalpindi city on Saturday, taking the total number of infections to 985 so far.

Of the 985 dengue infections recorded in Rawalpindi, 895 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery.

Meanwhile, the district administration registered 174 first information reports (FIRs) against violators of anti-dengue standard operating procedures (SOPs) while 243 shops and junkyards were also sealed.

Surveillance teams carried out raids in various areas and imposed fines worth Rs2 million on 623 people after the recovery of dengue larvae while 3,290 citizens were issued warning notices on violations of SOPs.

Read Twin cities see rise in dengue cases

The district administration has directed the health department to expedite dengue surveillance and eliminate dengue larvae. The health teams have been directed to carry out fumigation in all hotspots.

Health experts have said the dengue threat will persist until the temperature dropped.

On the other hand, Prime Minister’s National Task Force Chairman on Science and Technology Dr Atta-ur-Rahman on Saturday expressed concern over the increasing number of dengue cases in the twin cities and other parts of Punjab.

He said that the only way to prevent this viral infection was to ensure the cleanliness of surrounding areas and avoid storing water in tanks in the open. He said that the government through its surveillance and public awareness campaign was also advising people to avoid storing water in the open to prevent the spread of the virus.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2021.