Preventive measures: Dengue surveillance up over rain forecast

Govt to stock on fish specie that feeds on dengue mosquito larvae.

LAHORE: The Met Department has forecast more rains ahead and government departments need to be on alert for a possible dengue fever breakout, Adviser to CM on Health Salman Rafique said on Friday.

He was presiding over a meeting of the cabinet committee on dengue surveillance. Dengue Control Additional DG Islam Zafar presented an overview of the situation. “So far, one confirmed dengue patient has been reported in the Punjab…the patient is a resident of Gujranwala.”

Crackdown in the city

Samanabad Town Municipal issued notices on Friday to three beverage manufacturing units. They were warned of possible action if dengue mosquito larvae were found on their premises again. Town Municipal Officer Malik Imtiaz Awan said larvacide had been provided to staff in all union councils. Officials at the meeting suggested that the WASA and the Lahore Waste Management Company could be asked to drain rain water from areas they found dengue mosquito larvae in.

They said they could ask the Fisheries Department to make sure there were fish in ponds. LDA officials have been told to check construction sites.

The government has decided to stock a fish specie that feeds on dengue larvae. The fisheries official requested citizens to identify sites with accumulated water where fish could survive. He said they would release the fish there.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2015.