Dengue refuses to ebb despite drop in mercury

Dengue mosquito bites continue to plague Rawalpindi. In the last 24 hours, four new cases of dengue were confirmed despite a preventive campaign, bringing the total number of patients receiving treatment at allied hospitals to 260. Despite efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, Potohar town continues to persist as the hotspot for dengue cases.

At the same time, Rawalpindi district reported 104 new dengue patients, bringing the total number of confirmed cases this season to 5,162. The death toll has risen to 16 this season. In Rawalpindi district 50 dengue patients were reported from Potohar Town, 18 from within the Municipal Corporation limits, 19 from Rawalpindi Cantonment, five from Chaklala Cantt and Taxila, and four from Potohar Rural. One each from Kahuta, Gujarkhan, Kallar Syedan and Kotli Sattian.

This year, a total of 5,291 FIRs were registered against citizens for violating anti-dengue SOPs, and 1,816 buildings were sealed. Additionally, 3,308 challan tickets were issued to citizens for repeated violations. According to the health department, citizens were also slapped with fines that totalled up to Rs21.5 million for the discovery of dengue larvae in their establishments despite previous warnings.