Careful monitoring and targeted use of larvicide were key to the government’s success in controlling dengue this season, said officials at a seminar here at the Alhamra Arts Council on Wednesday.
The seminar – titled Dengue Control in Punjab: A Success Story was arranged by the Environment Protection Department. It was aimed at giving an insight into the government’s dengue control strategy and highlight its success.
Dr Waseem Akram, the head of research and development on dengue, said that from July to November 2011, there were 373 deaths due to dengue, 22,000 confirmed cases and 0.6 million suspected cases across the Punjab.
“In view of the 2011 epidemic, our major focus was on managing the vector population by eliminating the larvae in suspected areas,” he said.
Most dengue mosquito larvae, he said, were found in open spaces like nurseries and scrap yards so this is where government teams had focused.
He said that rather than large scale fogging like last year, the government had done so only in areas with a confirmed adult dengue mosquito presence, as fogging has adverse effects on human health and the environment. “Last year, we were draining ponds and water bodies of stagnant water, but this year the need did not arise,” he said.
Younas Zahid, the additional district officer (environment), spoke about the anti-dengue squads and their activities across Lahore. He said that they had been careful to conduct insecticide sprays only in areas where there were known to be adult mosquitoes and larvae.
Environment Secretary Saeed Iqbal Wahla said that EPD officials had worked hard to eradicate the disease, which was why there had been no confirmed deaths due to dengue this season.
MNA Pervaiz Malik was the chief guest at the seminar.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2012.
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