RAWALPINDI: The district health department has failed to fumigate low-lying areas of the city to prevent the spread of dengue virus.

 Entomologists have declared five areas in the cantonment and low-lying areas of the city, especially along Leh Nullah, ideal place for dengue mosquitoes.

“After the unusual rains in the last two months, chances of outbreak of malaria and dengue virus has increased manifold,” a senior doctor of the district health department told Dawn.

“The health department has gone slack with its drive. In 2013, when it did not take preventive measures and more than 1,500 patients turned up in the three hospitals with dengue virus,” the doctor said.

He said five places had been declared vulnerable: Railway Colony, Gawalmandi, People’s Colony, Habib Colony near Westridge, Adiala Road and areas along the banks of Leh Nullah.

A senior official of the City District Government Rawalpindi said the government had asked all departments to launch a drive.

When contacted, District Officer Health (Urban Areas) Dr Tahir Ahmed said the teams were taking preventive measures in the city areas. After finding dengue mosquitoes last week, the department launched a door-to-door drive in Dhoke Ratta, Ratta Amral, Hazara Colony and Eidgah.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2015

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