In the wake of surge in dengue positive cases, the Punjab government decides to observe 'Anti-Dengue Day' on November 3 for raising awareness among the masses to fight out the disease. Mobile teams consisting of public representatives, officials, students, NGOs and Imam Mosques of the concerned locality will visit door-to-door and apprise the people regarding the preventive measures to check dengue.
During the last 24 hours, as many as 52 dengue positive cases have been confirmed across the province including 32 in Lahore and 20 in Rawalpindi raising the figure of total dengue cases reported this year to 857 with as per official statistics two deaths on account of dengue. However, unofficial figures quoted the death toll number as six. Official sources claimed that the Punjab government had constituted a board consisting of senior doctors to ascertain the real cause of death of two patients reported died of dengue.
According to them, the services of 1,000 lady health workers have been placed at the disposal of anti-dengue programme to make anti-dengue programme more active. Health experts claimed that the number of dengue patients in Karachi and KP had increased due to change of weather and unexpected rains which have also affected Punjab, especially those brought from Swat to Rawalpindi.
Punjab Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan asked the authorities concerned to include celebrities of showbiz and sports in the awareness campaign. He directed that all the government departments should follow the SOPs of Dengue control in letter and spirit. He said the government departments had two years' experience of all such activities; therefore, no leniency on the part of government institutions would be tolerated in ensuring dengue control activities.
Special Secretary Health Babar Hayat Tarrar informed that, at present, 71 confirmed dengue patients were under treatment in different hospitals, and informed that after Lahore the worst-affected district was Rawalpindi by the dengue. He said indoor dengue surveillance was being intensified because due to change of weather the mosquito would take refuge inside the houses therefore, the indoor surveillance is very vital to control dengue breeding.