There exists no dengue fever virus in Punjab and the reported victims of this virus in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur have been affected by those who recently travelled with virus from Karachi to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.
However, the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) has adopted necessary preventive measures to check the spread of dengue virus, said Dr Masood Ashraf, in-charge, Anti-Dengue Campaign, launched by the CDGL here on Monday.
Talking to Business Recorder, Dr Ashraf said no death has so far been reported in Lahore due to dengue fever, but 'irresponsible press reports' have scared the people. 'The number of patients could have been in thousands if dengue virus exists in the province', he said. He was of the view that the passengers arrived from Karachi where virus affected many people, were the main source of spread of the disease.
The CDGL teams are spraying all the incoming and outgoing trains at Lahore Railway Station so that possibility of transfer of virus through mosquitoes could be effectively checked. The teams are engaged in fumigation and regularly spraying in the locality of Misri Shah which was declared as most sensitive area because of four patients who had positive result of the virus.
Moreover, the CDGL teams sprayed the areas of Police Lines, Garhi Shahu, Chauburji, Sheranwala Gate and Harbanspura on Monday. They are giving priority to congested and walled city areas for the spray purpose, he added.
"We have also sprayed over 12 drains in the city, but due to heavy garbage, mosquitoes could have hide in the garbage where check of their growth is highly difficult", he maintained.
He was of the view that unless proper cleanliness is not ensured in the city, mosquitoes growth cannot be checked. However, the solid waste department of the CDGL is making arrangements for removal of garbage from the drains, he said.
Moreover, Punjab Health Director General Dr Aslam Chaudhry told Business Recorder that as many as 30 cases of dengue fever were so far reported in various parts of the province, including Lahore, Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur. As many as 25 patients have been discharged after providing treatment, while remaining five patients are likely to be discharged soon.
He was of the view that the people who travelled from Karachi to celebrate Eid in various cities of the province could have been the source of spreading the disease among people of this province. However, the situation is fully under control and necessary safeguards have been adopted in the province, he added.
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