LAHORE - A Cabinet Committee meeting on dengue was held in Civil Secretariat here on Monday with Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique in the chair.

During the meeting, the public health experts observed that due to dry weather and favorite day time temperature for dengue breading could extend the dengue season upto December.

The public health experts have advised the participants of sit-in of Islamabad to wear full dress and use mosquito repellents to protect themselves from mosquito bites as there is an outbreak of dengue in Islamabad.

Any slackness could cause infection of dengue fever to the protesters and the disease could spread in other areas, it added.

Besides, senior officers of the concerned departments, DCO Lahore Capt. Muhammad Usman, Dean Institute of Public Health, Member Dengue Experts Advisory Group, Dr. Somia Iqtidar, Incharge Chief Minister Dengue Research Cell Prof. Waseem Akram, officers from PITB, Metrological Department, Special Branch and EDO Health Lahore attended the meeting.

DCOs and EDOs Health of Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Jhelum and Attock participated in the meeting through video link and apprised the meeting of the dengue situation and the measures taken in their respective districts to check the dengue.

Additional Director General Dengue Control Program Dr. Fayyaz Butt informed that in 2015 more than 2700 confirmed dengue patients were reported in Rawalpindi whereas during current year 897 patients had so far been reported.

He said that last year, no patient was reported from Islamabad, however, during 2016 a total 1644 dengue patients had been reported in Islamabad and the majority of them was treated in the hospitals of Rawalpindi and still there were dengue patients from Islamabad admitted in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Holy Family and District Headquarter Hospital Rawalpindi.

Prof Waseem Akram revealed that as soon as the night temperature would decrease the mosquito move inside the houses due to which there were chances in increasing the number of dengue patients. He advised that targeted and need based fogging and spray should be carried out as and when required.

He said that Town Incharge and UC Incharge should decide about the fogging or spray.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafique directed the DCO Rawalpindi to review the arrangements for the treatment of dengue patients in the hospitals so that if the numbers of dengue patients were increased, appropriate and timely medical cover could be provided to the patients.

He directed the officers of the concerned departments to continue their anti-dengue activities and dengue surveillance vigorously.