Decline in cases: From 33 dengue cases reported everyday, number goes down to 10

Health minister directs fumigation, anti-mosquuito spray drive to control spread of diseases.

KARACHI: There has been a sharp decline in the number of dengue cases reported in Karachi every day, claimed commissioner Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui in a meeting on Thursday. The cases have reportedly gone down from 33 to 10 or below.

In an effort to decrease dengue cases, a campaign has been initiated by the health and local bodies minister, Owais Muzaffar. The campaign being carried out as a joint venture between the local government and health departments. The campaign is underway to eliminate aedes egypti, which is the mosquito that causes dengue fever.



Muzaffar has directed the relevant officials from the health and local government departments to carry out anti-mosquito sprays and fumigation drives in Karachi, as well as, in nine other districts, such as Thatta, Hyderabad, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Dadu, Sanghar, Shikarpur, Kahmore, Jamshoro and Sukkur. He has directed both departments to coordinate among themselves and warned that no negligence on their part would be tolerated.

Dengue Surveillance Cell’s Dr M Shakeel Amir Mullick told The Express Tribune that the efforts of the health minister have been successful in decreasing the number of reported cases. “The health department has cooperated in carrying out appropriate measures, which have resultantly prevented dengue cases,” he said.

On the directions of minister, the commissioner reviewed the meeting on the campaign where he urged officials to not be complacent as the situation could get worse at anytime. Siddiqui said that continuous fumigation and anti-mosquito spray drive should become a norm in the city inhabited by millions of people with little capacity to ensure adequate healthcare for themselves. He directed his officials to make sure that fumigation machines that can fit on motorcycles are made available for people living in congested communities - where cases might have risen due to lack of fumigation.



With a view to eradicate breeding points for aedes egypti mosquito, the commissioner sought a list from Karachi Water and Sewerage Board officials about leakage points in its supply network. The minister aims to create awareness among citizens and urged citizens in general to make sure that water containers in their houses are never left uncovered, plants are watered before sunset and after sunrise, no water is left un-wiped beneath washing machines, refrigerators or in corner of their house and anti mosquitoes spray or repellant is repeatedly used.

Commissioner has further urged the administration of all private and public sector hospitals in Karachi to cooperate with the Dengue Control and Surveillance Cell and ensure prompt report of the cases brought to them.

At the meeting, the official informed the commissioner that 40 private and 15 government hospitals were providing information about dengue fever cases reported to them on daily basis.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.