Dengue tally reaches seven in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi witnessed the addition of a seventh dengue patient to its tally on Tuesday, bringing the total cases this season to seven. The patient, originating from Dhama Syedan, was brought to Holy Family Hospital and subsequently transferred to the dengue ward.

District Health Officer Preventive Dr. Jawad Zahid informed Dawn that two dengue cases were reported in September, four in July, and one in March. Despite the current season's low count, Dr. Zahid reassured the public that the spread of the dengue virus remained under control. He pointed out that last year, 582 cases were reported in the garrison city, compared to the current seven cases.

To combat the dengue menace, an anti-dengue campaign has been launched in Rawalpindi. The campaign has formed 1,400 teams dedicated to indoor and outdoor surveillance. The areas with the highest number of larvae detection include Misrial Road, Afshan Colony, Allama Iqbal Colony, Naseerabad, Morgah, Dhama Syedan, Pirwadhai, Dhamyal, Hazara Colony, Pindora, Dhoke Mangtal, Dhoke Ratta, and Chak Jalaldin.

During the ongoing campaign, larvae were discovered at over 145,572 locations in houses and open spaces, all of which were effectively destroyed. Dr. Zahid emphasized that stringent action was taken against violations of dengue Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This included registering 2,543 FIRs, sealing 652 buildings, issuing 2,119 challans, and imposing fines totaling Rs2.568 million on violators.

The strategy involves locating and destroying as many larvae as possible to reduce the dengue threat. Dr. Zahid urged citizens to maintain a clean environment around their homes, including rooftops, and prevent stagnant water from accumulating to prevent dengue breeding in their surroundings.