Anti-dengue drivenears end as cases dip

Only 14 new cases reported in 24 hours; 2,500 daily-wage workers to be laid off

RAWALPINDI:

The anti-dengue campaign in Rawalpindi is nearing completion and is expected to conclude by mid-November, with approval also given to end the dengue emergency.

As temperatures drop at night, dengue larvae are dying in standing water, while mosquitoes have moved from open areas to shaded indoor spaces such as under beds, sofas, chairs, and behind curtains.

With a steady decline in patient numbers, hospitals have begun closing dengue wards and reassigning staff to regular duties.

Only 14 new dengue patients were reported in the last 24 hours, marking a continuous decline.

This year, 1,359 anti-dengue teams conducted larva control operations, screening 18,581 suspected patients, out of which 1,178 were confirmed dengue-positive.

Teams inspected 5,939,439 houses, discovering larvae in 18,276. They checked 1,676,152 hotspots, detecting larvae in 25,954 locations - a total of 215,130 sites overall.

Authorities registered 4,630 FIRs, sealed 1,883 units, issued 3,595 challans, and collected Rs11.13 million in fines.

With the campaign's conclusion, around 2,500 daily-wage employees will be laid off. During the drive, 136 workers were dismissed over negligence, fake reports, or absenteeism, while 41 received show-cause notices.