RAWALPINDI, Oct 27: The Punjab government has directed the health department to use water-based fogging machines for the anti-dengue fumigation.

It said the diesel-based spray machines were not environment friendly.

The government also provided two cold fogging machines to the district health department for this purpose.

Earlier, the health department mixed anti-dengue delta matherine with diesel and sprayed it to kill the mosquitoes.

However, environmentalists were of the view that the smoke generated through the process was injurious to human health.

Upon this, the government banned the use of such fogging in the city areas. But it allowed the health department to use it at places where the dengue mosquitoes were found and from where dengue patients had come to hospitals.

“The health department had been directed to use the cold fogging machines in which the delta marthine will be mixed with water and sprayed in the affected areas,” Executive District Officer Health Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal told Dawn.

He said after the experiment, the department found that the cold fogging system was more affective compared to the diesel-based fogging.

The results of the cold fogging showed that dengue mosquitoes and its eggs were eliminated through this method.

“The diesel-based fogging disturbed the upper respiratory system of human beings,” he added.

To a question, the EDO said the department used old methods of fogging in those areas from where more patients had arrived in hospitals. He said the DCO had given permission to the department for the diesel-based fogging.

Meanwhile, Dr Jaffar Ilyas, the health department’s additional director vector-borne diseases, visited the garrison city and directed the health department to launch a campaign on I.J. Principal Road as the dengue mosquitoes from Islamabad affected the localities of Khayaban-i-Sir Syed, Pirwadhai, Dhoke Hassu, Fauji Colony and other union councils.

Dr Gondal said the health department would spray anti-dengue medicines on both sides of the I.J. Principal Road.

“The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has failed to fumigate the areas under its administrative control bordering Rawalpindi and the dengue mosquitoes spread to the garrison city,” he said.