Dengue surveillance campaign should be accelerated: Dr. Zahid Pervaiz

Lahore: Director General Health Punjab Dr. Zahid Pervaiz has said that dengue situation is under control due to strenuous efforts of government departments and institutions, however, the impact of recent rains can become visible in the last week of September. Therefore, dengue surveillance and larvaeciding campaign should be accelerated to check the growth of dengue larvae.

He was presiding over a meeting to review the steps taken by different departments for controlling the menace of dengue at Civil Secretariat. District Coordination Officer Lahore Muhammad Usman, Additional Secretary Health (Technical) Dr. Salman Shahid, Additional Director General Health Dr. Zafar Islam, Dean IPH Dr. Muaz Ahmed, Dr. Somia Iqtedar, Prof. Wasim Akram and officers of concerned departments were present on the occasion.

Prof. Wasim Akram informed the meeting that 58 confirmed dengue cases have been reported in Punjab this year whereas this figure had reached 150 last year.  He further said that thousands of dengue patients have been reported in other countries of the region but due to effective measures taken by the government, dengue situation in Punjab is under control. He said that fogging and targeted spray at limited level should be conducted at the place from which dengue patient is reported.

Director General Health Dr. Zahid Pervaiz directed town administration to distribute pamphlets containing information about preventive measures against dengue in their respective areas. He said that dengue situation in thesil Ferozewala is serious and Ferozewala administration should take special attention towards this problem so that dengue should not take any epidemic form. He said that 18 cases of dengue have been reported from Sheikhupura out of which, 12 patients belonged to tehsil Ferozewala. He further said that all departments will have to continue their efforts for coping with dengue while community participation in this campaign is essential to root out this menace.