LAHORE, Nov 1: The number of dengue patients continues to increase in city hospitals as people of various areas complain that their localities are not being fumigated as announced by the City District Government Lahore.
There are also reports that the epidemic control staff of the CDGL is demanding that the citizens should provide deltamytherene, the drug required for the spray to kill the mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.
On the other hand, the pace of the CDGL staff in covering the maximum city area during its fog-spray campaign can be gauged from the fact that Misri Shah, one of the localities declared sensitive three days ago with respect to the dengue virus, could not yet been completely covered.
The nazims of UC-25 and UC-26 of Misri Shah even allege that the fumigation staff demanded the drug and diesel for fog spray as the CDGL has run short of the supplies.
The CDGL authorities had on Oct 17 formed 11 mobile teams of epidemic control wing for fog spray to eliminate mosquitoes. The teams were to cover 10 union councils daily. It was claimed that the teams continued working even during Eid holidays.
However, many people deny seeing any of the mobile teams set up for fumigation.
Muhammad Akram of Ichhra says he was surprised to read in newspapers that his neighbourhood had been sprayed, though no one in his area saw any spray team or the smoke thus emitted by the machine used by them. “I have seen the spray team but only on TV screens.”
Ghias Ahmad of Rasool Park laments that the teams were operating only along major city roads or in posh neighbourhoods, while those housing the majority of population and having most of the stagnant water pools are being totally ignored.
Mirza Naeem and Ijaz Masroor of Township say no fumigation team has visited their areas, though they are learning through the media that their localities have been sprayed with deltamytherene.
They say two drains passing through Township are proving hatcheries for mosquitoes as these were being totally ignored in the anti-mosquito drive.
So far seven patients have been admitted to various city hospitals with dengue fever symptoms. —Staff Reporter