Anti-dengue drive: Female workers hired to monitor, fog homes

TAXILA:

Fearing an outbreak of the resurgent dengue virus in Taxila and its adjoining areas, the local administration has beefed up control measures in the city, including an awareness campaign, house-to-house surveillance and fogging in high-risk areas.

As the number of dengue patients rose to 21 on Sunday, local administration enlisted the services of as many as 30 female health workers for indoor surveillance and creating awareness among household women in the city.

“An effective strategy has been devised to deal with the possible outbreak, and all provincial departments are working in a coordinated manner to counter the disease’s spread,” said Assistant Commissioner Shahid Imran.

He said a tehsil emergency response committee has been formed to make efforts to control dengue, adding the committee was assisting various departments.

Imran said volunteers are working in high-risk areas as dengue larva has been found from domestic sources, while no case has been reported from any commercial area.

He said fogging had been carried out in high-risk area, especially Sarai Kala, Mohallah Mashraqiabad and Jameelabad. Indoor residual spraying has also been carried out, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2015.