Power outages: Dengue threat looms large

Citizens say with rising mercury it is becoming increasingly difficult to stay indoors.

ISLAMABAD:

Frequent power cuts may put all the efforts to curb the dengue threat in jeopardy.

Under the situation, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the residents to remain indoors. Stepping out of the house would only mean exposing themselves to a mosquito bite.

The Capital Administration and Development Division’s (CADD) health department is focusing on organising walks and theatre performances, twice a week, to raise awareness about the epidemic.

CADD’s focal person on dengue Dr Yaqoob Qureshi said when every individual will start taking precautionary measures, it will help contain the epidemic to a great extent.

“Lights go out after every hour, the backups at homes don’t support. The only option we are left with is to step out of house to avoid the suffocating heat,” said Naeem Abbasi, one of the participants of a dengue walk organised by the CADD on Friday at D-Chowk.

Shaiq Malik, another participant said, “those who cannot afford power backups have no other option but to go outside and sleep under the open sky.”

Meanwhile, World Health Organization’s (WHO) focal person for Vector Control Dr Qutbuddin Kakar conceded that the chronic power outages could increase the risk of mosquito bite.

“Dengue mosquito is more active in the mornings and evenings,” he said.

He said that dengue mosquitoes usually fly low and when people go out, they directly encounter them.

Kakar said that in rural areas heap of garbage provide favourable breeding grounds for the mosquitoes.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2014.