Punjab Minister for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique has directed the relevant departments to gear up dengue outdoor and indoor surveillance in the districts where larva is reported in sufficient quantity. The Minister issued these directions while presiding over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Dengue here on Friday.
He also directed the chief executive officers health to ensure blood test reports of suspected dengue patients within minimum time period so that if the blood report confirmed the presence of dengue virus in the patients, proper treatment could be started of the patients. Giving expert opinion, Professor Faisal Masood said if the blood pressure of such patients decreases below hundred the patient must immediately be shifted from DHQ Hospital to Tertiary Care Hospital for intensive care.
Professor Wasim Akram stressed the need for improving dengue surveillance in the districts. The dengue risk districts are still under reporting, he added. Additional Director General Dengue Control Dr Farrukh Sultan told the meeting that 20 confirm dengue cases have so far been reported in Punjab. He said that sufficient stock of chemical to be used in dengue spray / fogging is available in all the districts. He said additional quantity of chemicals is also being purchased as a buffer stock.