LAHORE: Around 341 confirmed dengue patients have so far been reported in Lahore but there is no cluster of patients in any union council of the provincial capital.

“There has been a decrease in overall reports of dengue larvae while the situation in the Defence Housing Authority and Cantonment areas is gradually improving,” District Coordination Officer (DCO) retired Capt Muhammad Usman told a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Dengue, presided over by Chief Minister’s Adviser on Health Salman Rafique at the Civil Secretariat here on Tuesday.

Dengue Control Additional Director General Dr Fayyaz Butt said during the current year 524 confirmed dengue patients had been reported in Rawalpindi and 1,052 in Islamabad.

The meeting was informed that public sector hospitals of Rawalpindi had been extending medical treatment facilities to dengue patients from Islamabad also. Out of the 208 admitted patients in government hospitals of Rawalpindi, 131 were from Islamabad.

During 2015, 2,218 confirmed dengue patients had been reported in Rawalpindi whereas during this year so far the number was 788 -- less than half in the previous years.

DCOs and health executive district officers of Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Multan, Attock and Jhelum briefed the meeting regarding dengue situation in their respective districts through video link.

Chief Minister’s Dengue Research Cell In-charge Prof Wasim Akram said sustainability of temperature and warm weather during the day might extend dengue season up to mid-December. He said that targeted fogging and indoor residual spray had been allowed to eradicate the adult dengue mosquito.

The adviser said administrative secretaries of the departments concerned should ensure their participation in the meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Dengue for making the performance more effective and taking concrete steps in this regard.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2016