Entomologists of Agriculture Department during the current year have completed surveillance of 10,981 spots for dengue vector out of which, 123 have been declared as hot spots due to the presence of larvae of dengue mosquitoes. "This year more breeding places will be available for dengue mosquitoes and there is a dire need to take concrete efforts to control dengue," said Ahmad Ali Zafar, Additional Secretary (Planning) Agriculture, Punjab while chairing a seminar here on Saturday.
The seminar was arranged in connection with the "Anti Dengue Day" at Agriculture House, Lahore. Director General Agriculture (Ext. & AR) Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali, Director General Agriculture (Field), Dr Bashir Ahmad, Director Agricultural Information, Punjab M. Rafiq Akhtar, officials of Agriculture department and large number of civil society participants were present in the seminar.
Video documentary on dengue control prepared by Directorate of Agricultural Information, Punjab was also played. Muhammad Shehbaz, an entomologist of Agriculture Department delivered a comprehensive briefing about dengue virus, growth, control, different stages of dengue larvae and its eradication by adopting mechanical, biological and chemical measures.
He further said that carrier of dengue virus mosquito can grow on a temperature between 24 and 33 degree centigrade. These dengue mosquitoes can survive at temperature as low as 16 degrees centigrade and as high as 42 degree centigrade. Director General Agri. (Ext. & AR) Dr Anjum Ali said that dengue mosquitoes can be controlled by keeping the environment dry, clean and free from stagnant water. He further said that use of shopping bags must be discouraged and water pots in homes and offices should be properly covered.
Additional Secretary Agriculture in his speech said that Entomologists of Agriculture Department are playing an important role to make dengue campaign successful. Agricultural entomologists are making concrete efforts for surveillance of dengue mosquito to control and eradicate the habitat of dengue mosquito by adopting different techniques. An awareness walk was also organised by Agriculture Department from Thokar Niaz Baig to Judicial Colony and awareness literature was distributed among the people during the walk.
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