LAHORE, Aug 3: Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique has directed the health officials especially the EDO to further improve vector surveillance in the city during the next two months and ensure strict monitoring of the teams checking breeding of dengue mosquito.

He was presiding over a meeting at his office on Friday to review the arrangements for dengue control during changing weather. Special Secretary Health Dawood Muhammad Bareach and other senior officials were also present.

Chief Minister’s Dengue Research Cell in-charge Dr Waseem Akram informed the meeting that very few adult dengue mosquito and larva had been reported so far. “However, as the weather is favourable for breeding of dengue mosquito, there is a need for vector surveillance as well as preventive measures.”

Dr Waseem said there was no need for spray and fogging at present and dengue larva should be destroyed through mechanical method. He said a public awareness campaign was of utmost importance so that people could keep their houses clean, dry up their room coolers and cover their stored water so that possible growth of dengue larva could be prevented.

IPH Dean Prof Muaz Ahmed said there was a need to pay special attention to Samanabad, Ravi, Aziz Bhatti, Wagah and Gulberg towns as these were sensitive areas with regard to dengue.

Rafique directed that a letter should be written to the PHA director general, asking him to direct his staff to dispose of the items discarded by the visitors to the parks and not to water the parks. He directed the EDO health to submit a work plan of vector surveillance for two weeks in all towns. — Staff Reporter