RAWALPINDI: The District Health Authority has found dengue mosquito larvae in 272 areas in the district during its ongoing dengue prevention campaign.

These findings were shared at a meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office on Tuesday, chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Saima Younas to review the campaign.

The meeting was attended by District Officer Health Dr Naveed Akram, District Khateeb Iqbal Rizvi and officials from the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and district administration.

Health officials said that 68,527 homes have been checked by 331 teams during the ongoing larva siding campaign and dengue larvae were found in 272 houses.

A total of 57,317 public places were checked and dengue larvae were found in nine locations. They said these areas were also sprayed.

Ms Younas directed the district health department and the municipal administration authorities to complete larva siding by April 30 and start spraying anti-mosquito medicines from May 1 to prevent the mosquitoes from flourishing.

She said the campaign should not ignore graveyards, ponds and public areas, and the campaign against tyre stores should be accelerated as well. She said private and cooperative housing societies and private schools should be served notices to arrange drives on their premises as well.

The meeting decided to also focus on food department go-downs, while the district khateeb was directed to send details of government-managed mosques so they can be sprayed as well.

Health department officials said many union councils in the city areas have been covered and the rest will be covered by the end up of the month.

Tyre stores were checked in Rawal Town and open tyres were moved inside shops. In addition, 100 hotels and restaurants were checked and served warnings to keep kitchens clean and drain water that accumulates.

Ms Younas directed for the campaign to be sped up in union councils where dengue larvae were found. She said that although no dengue patients have been reported in the city’s main hospitals, the menace of dengue should be dealt with before the monsoon.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2019