172 new dengue cases confirmed in Punjab

People advised to maintain clean, dry surroundings

LAHORE:

The Punjab health authorities confirmed on Wednesday that 172 new cases of dengue fever had been recorded across the province in the past 24 hours.

According to the latest data, Rawalpindi reported 157 cases, Lahore eight and Jhelum two, while Gujranwala, Chakwal, Attock, Sargodha and Okara recorded one case each.

Over the past week, 904 new cases of dengue virus infection were identified, bringing the total number of cases in Punjab so far during 2024 to 3,771.

The health authorities stated that all necessary arrangements to counter the outbreak were in place, with a sufficient stock of medicines available in all government hospitals across the province.

In view of the rising number of cases, the department issued a strong advisory urging the public to maintain clean and dry surroundings to prevent the spread of the dengue virus. The citizens were urged to cooperate with health teams working to curb the outbreak.

In another development, the Punjab government has decided to digitise the micro plans to make the anti-polio campaigns more effective.

The campaigns will be monitored with the help of Geographical Information System-based maps, firstly in Lahore and then other districts.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman. Primary Health Secretary Nadia Saqib, the commissioner and deputy commissioner of Lahore, and representatives of international organisations working for polio eradication attended the meeting, while all other divisional commissioners and DCs participated through video link.

Addressing the meeting, the chief secretary said that work must be done on scientific lines for the eradication of polio. He said digitisation of micro plans is very important to get hundred per cent results. The primary health secretary said the national anti-polio campaign in Punjab would begin on October 28.