LAHORE, Aug 24: The Punjab Health Department has claimed that out of laboratory tests of 1,025 fever patients conducted on suspicion of dengue during the last eight months, no case was confirmed.

So far, the health department says, 12 confirmed dengue patients have been reported in Punjab, out of whom only two – one each in Mayo Hospital and Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology – are still under treatment.

LGH: Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital Principal Prof Anjam Habib Vohra has stated that preparations have been finalised for effective and timely provision of medical facilities to dengue patients.

He said 20 CBC (complete blood count) machines had been made functional for initial diagnostic reports of dengue suspects. Moreover, he said, spray process had been completed in all wards and other parts of the hospital in order to save patients, their attendants and staff from dengue virus.

He said the hospital would be observing a ‘cleanliness week’ from Aug 27, in which all LGH staffers would participate.

Prof Vohra said no strategy other than hygienic environment could work to get rid of this menace (dengue) on a permanent basis.

No larva: A team of Punjab University’s dengue research group visited hostel areas on Friday and collected samples of dengue larvae from the stagnant rainwater.

Dengue Research Group Chairman Prof Dr Saeed Akhtar says the team has not found dengue larvae, but detected larvae of common mosquito culex.

CMO Dr Nauman Ahmed said the PU Health Centre had established a separate centre for suspected dengue patients.

He said university teams were regularly carrying out a spray of insecticides for the prevention of dengue fever in both campuses.