Authorities in Rawalpindi in Pakistan are gearing up to tackle rising dengue cases as three more patients were confirmed infected with the mosquito-borne disease.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), with the three new cases reported on Saturday, the total number of cases has gone up to 37 in the city of Rawalpindi. The three are under treatment at the Holy Family Hospital.
Provincial Minister for Labour and Manpower Raja Ashfaq Sarwar along with Waseem Akram, advisor to the province of Punjab Chief Minister on dengue, Rawalpindi Commissioner Azmat Mahmood and District Coordination Officer Talat Mehmood Gondal held a meeting to monitor the situation and the anti-dengue measures in Rawalpindi district.
The next two months were very important in the fight against dengue, Sarwar said at the meeting, as the maximum number of cases is reported in the months of September and October, stated to be an ideal time for breeding of dengue mosquitoes.
The minister said that all relevant departments need to launch emergency steps and strict action taken against people responsible for breeding of dengue larvae, according to Pakistan Today English-language daily newspaper.
The doctors believe that the dengue situation is not as bad as it was during 2015.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Health department has decided to launch a special anti-dengue campaign in rural areas of the city.
A survey of likely sites for breeding dengue mosquitoes will be conducted and dengue larvae eliminated through fumigation and spray.
Anti-dengue drugs will be distributed among people for using them in water tanks to prevent breeding of dengue.
Special measures will be taken for drainage of standing water. Citizens will also be made part of this campaign, the daily said.
--IANS
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