LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday directed provincial ministers and concerned officials to ensure the success of the dengue-prevention campaign as the anti-dengue day drew nearer, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to the ministers and officials via telephone from London, the chief minister said elected officials should themselves visit the dengue-affected in hospitals and also review the quality of medical facilities being provided to the patients.

He added that the officials and experts treating dengue patients should collaborate and work with dedication for the elimination of dengue.

The chief minister further said there was no time to be squandered and no margin of laxity could be allowed in the ongoing campaign.

No negligence would be tolerated at any level by the officers concerned, Sharif said as he spoke to the ministers and officials.

The Punjab Government will be observing Nov 3 as anti-dengue day. The anti-dengue day approaches as the cases of those suffering from the virus continue to rise in Punjab.

On Tuesday, 42 more patients tested positive for the virus. Out of these, 28 were reported in Lahore.

The total number of dengue cases has reached 805 in Punjab in the ongoing season.

Also on Tuesday, Punjab Health Minister Khalil Tahir Sandhu had said that 1,000 lady health workers had been assigned to the anti-dengue program to make it more active. He had said 803 suspected dengue patients had been reported in Punjab since January out of which only 79 tested positive.

The minister had moreover said that the cabinet committee in its meeting had decided that special teams comprising public representatives and imams of mosques would go door to door to create awareness regarding protection against dengue.