KARACHI, July 5: While heavy rains have lashed Karachi and more are expected as the monsoon season continues, the city government health officials have yet to put in place a comprehensive plan to control the mosquito population and educate the public about the dangers of the buzzing pests.

Despite dengue cases reported in city hospitals, with two patients reportedly dying of the disease, no extensive activities of fumigation can be seen except for a few vehicles of the vector control department in the city.

An official of the department said that under the mosquito control project several city areas are sprayed each summer. According to him, the spray used is classified as slightly toxic by the Environmental Protection Agency, but is not a threat to people.

He said the spraying is primarily done to control the mosquito population and not to minimise the threat for transmission of various diseases carried by the mosquitoes.—PPI