Dengue deaths probe ordered

Health officials review surveillance failures across Lahore, other districts

LAHORE:

Provincial Health Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique and Khawaja Imran Nazir have directed authorities to investigate the causes behind recent dengue deaths and lapses in reporting, emphasizing accountability.

This decision was made during the 9th Cabinet Committee meeting on Dengue and Infectious Diseases, held at the Department of Primary and Secondary Health Care. Key officials, including Health Secretary Nadia Saqib, DG Local Government Raja Mansoor, Lahore DC Syed Moosa Raza and other senior health professionals, were present at the meeting, which reviewed the dengue situation across multiple districts, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan and Sheikhupura.

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique stressed the need for heightened vigilance following the recent rains, which increase the risk of dengue spread.

"We must ensure that commissioners and deputy commissioners monitor anti-dengue operations themselves, especially in sensitive districts. Every case of dengue needs to be tracked carefully," he said. He further said that government hospitals have ample stocks of dengue medicine and that all departments must be proactive at the district level.

Khawaja Imran Nazir echoed these sentiments, urging intensified anti-dengue efforts in high-risk areas.

He called on citizens to maintain cleanliness in their homes and coolers to help prevent the spread of the virus.

He also highlighted the need to involve private hospitals, ensuring that doctors and nurses receive proper training for dengue treatment and prevention.

During the meeting, Health Secretary Nadia Saqib also announced the upcoming polio vaccination campaign, ensuring that it would not hinder ongoing dengue prevention efforts.

She called for an updated stock report of dengue medicines in all hospitals.

Dengue cases have reached alarming levels following this week's rains across the province.

According to an official from the Primary and Secondary Health Care Department, 22 new cases have been confirmed in Punjab over the last two days.

The situation is particularly serious in Rawalpindi, where 16 new cases were identified in just a couple of days. Additional cases have also been reported in Lahore, Layyah, and Faisalabad districts. In the past week alone, 75 new cases have been confirmed, bringing the total number of dengue cases in Punjab this year to approximately 380.

The Punjab government had already issued alerts to all departments, instructing them to ramp up anti-dengue activities. Special equipment has been distributed to schools to raise awareness among students about dengue prevention.

As per the data, Rawalpindi has reported 13 cases, while Lahore, Faisalabad, and Layyah each reported one case.

Over the past week, 69 new cases of dengue virus infection have been identified, bringing the total number of cases in Punjab to 368 for the year 2024.

The health department has issued a strong advisory to the public, urging them to maintain clean and dry surroundings to prevent the spread of dengue fever.

Citizens are encouraged to cooperate fully with the Health department teams working tirelessly to control the outbreak.

For those seeking treatment, information, or wanting to register complaints related to dengue, the department has made a free helpline available at 1033.

The department emphasizes that vigilance and proactive measures are crucial to containing the spread of dengue in Punjab.