Agriculture Department continues dengue larvae surveillance

Lahore: 267 hot spots out of 27718 total sites visited regarding surveillance of dengue mosquito larvae have been observed by 55 teams of entomologists of Agriculture Department during 2013.

Dengue mosquito larvae were found at Lahore at 260 and at Faisalabad at 7 places. This was said by Ahmad Ali Zafar, Additional Secretary (Planning) Agriculture, Punjab while chairing a seminar regarding “Anti Dengue Day” here at Agriculture House, Lahore. Director General Agriculture (Ext. & AR) Dr. Muhammad Anjum Ali, Director Pest Warning Malik Fayyaz 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. Mr. 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 told that 60 and 207 hot spots during pre-season (February to July) and active-season (July to November) have been found respectively, While during 2011 out of 12961 spots visited, 1898 were declared as hot spots due to the presence of dengue mosquito larvae whereas last year 399 hot spots were found out of 20586 total sites visited.

He further told that temperature between 24 to 33 degree centigrade is most favorable for dengue virus carrier mosquito to propagate its population. These dengue mosquitoes can also survive at minimum temperature of 16 degrees centigrade and maximum of 42 degree centigrade. Director General Agri. (Ext. & AR) told 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 told 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 organized by Agriculture Department from Agriculture House to Lahore Press Club and Thokar Niaz Baig to Judicial Colony. Awareness literature was distributed among the people during the walk.