PESHAWAR: Health Secretary Adeel Shah asked the health workers to continue their efforts to further strengthen the dengue control measures due to which only 130 dengue cases, lowest by any province, were reported in the KP province so far this year.

He said this in a letter issued to all the district health officers and dengue control teams, said a press statement, issued here on Saturday. He said only 11 patients remained with active dengue virus, while 119 patients had fully recovered.

Mr Shah noted that the recent increase in dengue cases in certain districts was due to the rains, which were influenced by climatic changes and urged the public to continue following strict preventive measures against the disease. “We must actively work to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes until the end of the dengue season,” he stressed.

The Health Department has been directed to adopt an active and systematic approach at all levels to prevent the spread of dengue virus. All available resources are being utilised in collaboration with line departments to control the disease. All relevant officials have been issued with the clear instructions that no negligence will be tolerated in this regard.

District health officers (DHOs) have been directed to intensify efforts in surveillance, larva elimination, and dengue control measures. “We are making every effort to control dengue with the community’s involvement,” the health secretary maintained.

Additionally, at the direction of the health secretary, Director of Public Health Dr Irshad Ali issued directives of strict compliance to the DHOs of Peshawar, Abbottabad, Bannu, Swabi, and Nowshera where a rise in dengue cases was observed.

The Health Department instructed the district health authorities of daily monitoring of the situation, weekly review meetings, and specific actions to limit the spread of dengue in these districts. They were tasked with monitoring daily case detection, determining the spread of the virus, and taking timely preventive measures.

The letter further instructed the DHOs to organise activities for the elimination of dengue larvae with special operations in hotspot union councils. Collaboration with other line departments and full utilisation of available resources were also emphasised. The letter further directed the health officials to have focus on conducting dengue surveillance, public awareness campaigns, and community involvement activities in these hotspot areas.

Moreover, practical steps will be taken in the hotspot union councils of these districts, including anti-mosquito spray campaigns and efforts to minimise growth of mosquito. Daily situation reports, meetings’ minutes, details of larval elimination activities, and reports on special measures will be submitted to the public health section of the department on dailybasis.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2024