First dengue case reported in Pindi

Health officials issue orders to expedite anti-dengue campaign

RAWALPINDI:

The dengue fever has sprouted once again just as the coronavirus pandemic appears to subside.

The first case of dengue was reported in Khurram Colony in Rawalpindi, indicating that the viral mosquito has started to breed earlier than its usual time of the year.

The affected individual was rushed to a hospital with severe dengue symptoms. The news of the season’s first dengue case raised alarm bells for the district administration and health officials.

Deputy Commissioner Tahir Farooq immediately issued orders to expedite the dengue campaign. The Punjab Infectious Diseases (Prevention and Control) Act, 2020 is also being implemented from 01 April.

The deputy commissioner has also nominated the Civil Defense Department as a regular third-party survey agency in the dengue campaign. Acting on the instructions, the department has already recovered thousands of dengue larvae from three houses and four under-construction buildings in Potohar Town area. These areas were earlier declared clear by the health teams.

Special dengue wards and counters are being set up in all Allied hospitals in wake of the first dengue fever case.

Read: Minister for devising strategy to control dengue

Rawalpindi Commissioner Noorul Amin has issued strict instructions for immediate eradication of dengue larvae by conducting an immediate search of cemeteries, junkyards, under construction buildings, vacant plots, green areas, and roofs of houses across the city. The special anti-dengue spray has also been ordered in green areas.

Anti-dengue measures

On Friday, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) officials have been directed to utilise all available resources to control dengue in cantonment areas.

Additional Cantonment Executive Officer (ACEO) RCB Naveed Nawaz said that “Negligence from officials would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against those who do so.

All officials will have to work beyond their duty to control the situation.” The meeting was attended by Assistant Commissioner Cantt Anisha Hisham, Additional Deputy Commissioner-General (ADCG) Marzia Saleem, Secretary Cantt Board, Qaiser Mahmood, Chief Public Health Officer Amir Azeem, Public Health Officer Shabbir Akhtar, Focal Person Mazhar Hussain, Sanitary Inspector and Dengue Cell head Najam-ul-Hassan and others.

The meeting discussed all possible measures to control dengue and decided that solid steps would be taken to prevent dengue in all housing societies in Cantt areas. Special teams would also be formed on an emergency basis to prevent spread of dengue mosquitoes.

The ACEO directed authorities to pay particular attention to a public awareness campaign against dengue. He said “14 big nullahs of Cantt areas were being cleaned while the Chief Public Health Officer and Public Health Officer had provided assurances regarding improving the cleanliness process in Cantt areas.

The RCB garden branch and sanitation officials were directed to improve cooperation with anti-dengue teams.” The ADCG stated “In view of the dengue outbreak, the meeting to review the situation would be held twice a week, in which performance reports of the departments concerned would be discussed.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2022.