The Khyber Pakhtunkhawa government will call in 17 entomologists (scientists who study insects) in an effort to curb the rising incidence of dengue fever in the province, participants of a meeting chaired by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan decided on Tuesday.

KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Provincial Minister for Health Shahram Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Azam Khan and Secretary Health Abid Majeed were present in the meeting.

All hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa will establish dengue help desks, while a 24-hour helpline will be established to combat the outbreak, the officials decided.

The province's Dengue Response Units will also be made "more effective" and 'Insaaf Khidmatgaar' health workers will start cleanliness campaigns in each district of KP.

"The most effective way to combat this illness is the maintainence of clenliness and hygine," Imran Khan was quoted to have said during the meeting.

The province will also run a large scale 'anti-germ' campaign between November and March.

All health-related departments will be informed about their responsibilities during the campaign prior to its commencement, members of the meeting decided.

Seven people have been killed and over 1,500 affected by the dengue virus in Peshawar, according to statistics released by the city's Deputy Commissioner's Office on August 22.

The Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex and Lady Reading Hospital are treating most of the victims, while Tehkal, Pishtakhara, Warsak Road and Deh Bahadar are the most affected areas, according to the report.

The Punjab government has been assisting the KP government in dealing with the outbreak.