Daily Times

LAHORE: Despite all out efforts by the Punjab government, the dengue mosquito and virus were still not coming under control, as more patients were perishing with every passing day in Lahore and other parts of the province.

At least 30 new dengue patients were admitted to different city government and private hospitals during the last 24 hours. The number of dengue patient has reached more than 800 during the current year in Lahore. The city government was seen active during last few months as should be, critics opined and believed that the mosquito was active while the government and the society were not. Now the government has once again activated its anti-dengue campaign with the recent celebration of Dengue Day. However, the dengue menace was increasing dangerously across the province despite stringent actions taken by the authority to tackle the fever.

According to the Provincial Health Department, at least 177 confirmed dengue patients have been reported in Lahore, while 142 FIRs have been registered and 41 people arrested during last two weeks. Experts said the dengue virus reemerged twice in a year from February to April and from September to November. In the first period of the year, a few cases of dengue fever were reported while the most of them appeared in second phase (from September to November). Experts termed the current monsoon season a threat for another large-scale epidemic of dengue fever, especially for those patients who encountered the same disease last year.

They said that there were very simple methods to stop the breeding of dengue mosquito.

These methods include changing water daily in flowerpots and there should be no water left in trays of water pots, tires, bottles, bathtubs and water tanks.