LAHORE, Oct 28: The epidemic control department of the City District Government Lahore says it is continuing its fog spray campaign as five union councils of Shahdara were fumigated on Saturday.

Epidemic control officer Dr Masood Ashraf says under a modified strategy for covering whole of a specific area, the walled city was fumigated on Friday. Open drains and ponds in northern Lahore localities like Misri Shah, Wassanpura, Farooq Ganj had also been sprayed, he adds.

According to him, the campaign started on Oct 17 as a precautionary measure against spread of dengue fever and remained continued even during Eid holidays.

Dr Masood denied the impression that the chemical (deltamethyrene) being used for fog spray is prepared in water. “Fogging is impossible with water-based chemicals. The process requires use of petrol, diesel or at least kerosene oil.”

Asked if the spray caused any health hazard, he said it might cause allergies to people with sensitive skin while inhalation of the smoke might result in breathing problems. However, it involves no serious health problem.

About the availability of funds, the chemical and manpower, he said there was no problem in this respect as DCO Muhammad Ijaz had assured him of all-out support to meet these requirements.

Monitoring and compliance reports regarding the campaign are being submitted to the DCO on daily basis, he said.

However, sources in the CDGL health department say the epidemic control wing is witnessing a severe shortage of manpower. According to them, against an approved strength of 461, only around 180 people are working with it.

They also say all the four vehicles purchased for the wing when Shahbaz Sharif was the Punjab chief minister had been given to magistrates, and livestock and food officials.

At present, there is not a single vehicle with the wing and the epidemic control staff would either have to use their own conveyance or the CDGL would specially provide them vehicles for fog spray in the length and breadth of the city government’s jurisdiction.