Dengue Season Likely To Go Longer: Advisor

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2016 ) : Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafiq on Monday said dengue situation in Punjab was gradually improving and the number of dengue patients in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and other cities had reduced to half.

He said, due to dry weather and no substantial decrease in temperature during the day, dengue season was expected to last till December. He was presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Dengue, here.

Member Provincial Assembly Pir Ashraf Rasool. Director General Health Dr. Mukhtar Hussain Syed, Secretary Environment, senior officers of Health and other departments as well as District Coordination Officer Lahore were present on the occasion.

DCOs of other districts presented a report through video link about dengue situation and the measures for its control in their respective districts. The meeting was informed that the ratio of reporting of dengue patients in Rawalpindi and Islamabad had reduced to 50 percent and the situation had substantially improved.

Similarly, the number of under-treatment dengue patients in hospitals had also declined.

DCO Lahore Capt. (R) Muhammad Usman informed that dengue larvae had reduced outdoor in Lahore, however, there was still need for further efforts in this regard.

Prof. Waseem Akram informed that target fogging and indoor spray would be conducted where needed so that dengue mosquito could be eliminated. Secretary Environment, Capt. (R) Saif told that according to NASA and other international agencies, about 32 million ton waste was set on fire after harvesting of rice crop in Indian Punjab due to which environmental pollution and smog increased dangerously.

However, he said, due to change in wind direction and extinguishing of fire in the fields, smog situation was improving in Lahore and other cities. The Secretary Environment further told that factories and mills producing smoke and causing pollution in Lahore and other big cities had been closed.

Kh. Salman Rafiq said dengue situation could prolong as pollution was persisting and there had been no rain. He directed that all departments should continue anti-dengue activities so that situation could remain under control. APP/mnb/zqr/ati � 22:25/22:30/22:30