Dengue outbreak: 99 more cases reported as dengue spreads

Cases also reported in Faisalabad and Multan; fumigation campaign underway.

LAHORE:

The dengue outbreak continued on Friday with another 99 cases reported in hospitals across the city.

The Health Department also reported one case each in Multan and Faisalabad. Officials said that a fumigation campaign was underway to eradicate the dengue mosquito.  The Pakistan Medical Society organised a seminar on dengue on Friday to raise awareness of precautionary measures.

Health Director General Dr Aslam Chaudhry told the seminar not to leave clean water uncovered outside. He said dengue was curable and patients were being treated free at government hospitals. Pakistan Medical Association Chairman Dr Masood Sheikh said the association would conduct an awareness campaign about preventive measures over the next few months.

He said the dengue mosquito usually moved to another area after some time, so he hoped this would be the last year of dengue in Pakistan. He said that the government should designate a Dengue Spray Day when people would spray their homes and streets to kill dengue mosquitoes.

He said the inside of rooms had to be sprayed in order to reach mosquitoes hiding inside houses.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2011.