Large-scale dengue larvae baffles officials
A large number of dengue mosquito larvae have been detected across the Rawalpindi district during indoor and outdoor surveillance, which has baffled health and administration officials.
Sources said that dengue larvae were detected at 16,000 locations during the indoor and outdoor surveillance carried out in the district.
According to sources, dengue larvae have been able to breed at a large scale during the current monsoon rain spells, and as a result, the dengue mosquito could spread on a large scale.
Currently, there are 13 dengue-positive patients in the district. However, the dengue larvae have been found in 15,601 houses and 1,852 other localities during surveillance. Experts termed the figure worrisome and ominous.
During the anti-dengue campaign, 99 locations were left out while fake anti-dengue activities were shown at 377 locations.
Under the supervision of the district administration, 636 FIRs have been registered, 248 buildings sealed, 782 challans issued and 3,926 notices have been issued against violators of dengue SOPs. Moreover, an Rs1.7635 million fine was also slapped on violators.
Sources in the health department said that despite the anti-dengue campaign, continuous rains and non-implementation of dengue SOPs by citizens at homes and outdoor were causing the breeding of dengue larvae on a large scale. They said that there was a dire need to take precautions, otherwise, the dengue outbreak could not be ruled out in the third week of August owing to the large-scale mosquito breeding.
According to health department focal person Dr Waqar, the anti-dengue campaign was ongoing. “The positive aspect of the large-scale detection of the dengue larvae is that its outbreak can still be controlled by culling the larvae,” he said.
Earlier, warnings had been issued to officials concerned after 152 bogus anti-dengue activities were detected in the district by the monitoring team.
With a large number of dengue larvae being found across the district as compared to the previous years, the health department had termed the situation a double-edged sword.
Officials had said that a large number of larvae could lead to more dengue cases and there was the danger of dengue spreading to an alarming extent.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Rawalpindi, Noor-ul-Ameen Mengal, has declared an anti-dengue mosquito emergency plan in all four districts.
All deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners have been tasked to monitor the anti-dengue operations in their relevant areas.
According to a spokesperson for the commissioner office, fumigation will be carried out during the anti-dengue emergency plan in the affected areas.
He said that the district administration has also been directed to have a strong check on the work of the anti-dengue teams and to further improve the quality of surveillance.
Price control magistrates and union council secretaries have been delegated the authorities to register cases against those violating the dengue SOPs.
As per anti-dengue plan, all commercial buildings and properties will be sealed with immediate effect in case dengue larvae was found in buildings during surveillance.
Special screening will be carried out in junkyards, tyre shops and water ponds. District departments will ensure door-to-door surveillance in order to make the anti-dengue campaign successful.
He said that the citizens should adopt precautionary measures to prevent the spread of dengue.
Health department teams will organise dengue awareness lectures in all educational institution during the anti-dengue emergency drive aimed to inform the students about the dangers of dengue mosquito and prevention methods.
The spokesperson further said that the anti-dengue teams will provide awareness to the residents of different areas through loudspeakers.
Special counters will be established in all allied hospitals of the district where rapid test facility will be available to the patients under the emergency plan. All hospitals across the district will be provided with large amount of dengue fever medicine and plasma for the cure of dengue patients, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2022.