92 more dengue cases surface in capital

Ombudsman orders plan of action to combat dengue outbreak

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad witness an upsurge in dengue infections with around 92 more dengue cases being reported in the federal capital in the last 24 hours which brings the total tally to 1,177.

DHO Zaeem Zia reported that 3,515 persons have been infected with the dengue virus so far with 52 infections reported in rural areas and 40 infections reported in urban areas in the last 24 hours. He said that one dengue patient was admitted to CDA Hospital, seven to Chak Shahzad General Hospital, 38 dengue patients to PIMS Hospital, and 36 other patients who visited private laboratories in the city and tested positive for the dengue virus.

Taking notice of the dengue outbreak, the Federal Ombudsman directed the Ministry of Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, and CDA to present an action plan to eliminate the large-scale prevalence of dengue in ICT. In compliance with the orders, the CDA chairman presented a plan of action along with an inquiry which reported that 910 cases have been reported in Islamabad so far with sectors such as G-6, G-7, and G-11 as most affected. Moreover, he said that most of the dengue larvae were found during surveillance in sectors G-6, G-7, F-6, F-7, I-8, and I-9.

He claimed that 38 CDA teams are currently working to identify hotspots and fogging is being done in those infected areas. Similarly, 12 vehicles with 72 spray machines are working day and night under Dengue Eradication Campaign. He also said that the Federal Ombudsman has directed the CDA to ensure anti-dengue spraying in each sector of ICT and adjoining areas every week and submit a monthly report to Wafaqi Mohtasib Ombudman's Secretariate (WMS).

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2022.