KHYBER: The local health authorities have stepped up efforts to contain rapid spread of dengue virus in Khyber as the number of infected persons reached 15 only in Landi Kotal on Sunday.

Shah Mohammad Afridi, the focal person for dengue control in Landi Kotal, told mediapersons that they had started holding awareness sessions with residents of the affected localities alongside establishing medical camps for treating the infected persons, which mostly included women and children.

He said fumigation was also being conducted at a number of localities in order to eliminate dengue larva. He, however, regretted that local residents were not fully cooperating with the health teams in controlling dengue as larva was found in a number of houses where they had conducted fumigation of the entire vicinity along with holding awareness sessions with them. He said local residents were not complying with precautionary measures like covering water storage points and utensils in their homes.

He said dengue initially started in Wali Khel locality, which was immediately fumigated, and awareness sessions were held in hujras, mosques, schools and other public places.

Mr Afridi insisted people’s cooperation was vital to control dengue.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2022