Extensive fumigation drive against mosquitoes awaited

While the heavy rains have lashed Karachi and more rains are expected as the monsoon would continue till September, the city government health officials are still to work to control the mosquito population and educate the public on the dangers of the buzzing pests.
"We really need to make people cautious," said an official of Vector Control Department of CDGK. "Basically, every year we get people to start thinking about prevention."
Despite dengue cases reported in city hospitals with two of patients reportedly died of the disease, no extensive activities of fumigation can be seen except some of the vehicles of Vector Control department in the city.
The official said that under Mosquito Control Project several areas in the city are sprayed each summer. According to him the spray used, usually contains a formula that is classified as slightly toxic by the Environmental Protection Agency, but is not a threat to people or pets - only to mosquitoes.
"We're looking for preferably 50 percent control," said an expert entomologist for the department. "To get any better than that is particularly hard."
But he said the spraying is primarily done to control the population, and not to minimise the threat for transmission of the diseases like malaria, dengue, Congo or other lethal diseases, which are carried by the mosquitoes. He said that the last two years have seen an increase in dengue fever coupled with malaria.
During the last two years, over 5,000 humans were affected by dengue in Sindh, resulting in over 50 deaths. While health expert said dengue is predominantly found in the urban parts of the state, people from all parts should be cautious. "Really, people have to take these precautions regardless of where they live," experts said. "We're concerned about dengue virus everywhere, and malaria can occur in all parts of the state."
They also appealed to city government officials to launch an extensive fumigation campaign to control further breading of mosquitoes as to protect citizens from the infectious diseases. Concerned over mosquito-borne diseases
The Pakistan Medical Association Karachi (PMA) has expressed its deep concern over the emergence of mosquito-borne disease in the city particularly dengue fever and hemorrhagic fever during the raining season.
We had already indicated about increase number of cases of dengue fever in the city after rains. Last year approximately 60 people died including 52 in Karachi and more than 7,000 people suffered all over the country, PMA expressed these concerns in a release on 5 July.
It said only way to ward off dengue fever was taking preventive measures. Dengue fever is a viral disease caused by mosquito called Aedes Aegypti. As this is not a contagious disease there is no need to isolate dengue patients; however, virus can be transmitted through the bite of the mosquito.
"Important point is to completely eradicate mosquitoes from Karachi by taking correct preventing measures at governmental and individual level," PMA noted.
It advised all concerned authorities to launch massive awareness campaign on regular basis, fumigation should be carried out with regular interval particularly on stagnant water, spray inside and outside of hospitals, schools, offices, plant nurseries and gardens, tyre repair shops.
"Government should establish quality laboratories for diagnoses of all viral disease and make arrangements for collection of blood sample at various city hospitals," PMA said.
"Blood platelet be provided free to ailing people, private hospital should reduce prices on platelet and diagnosis, government should exempt custom duty and sales tax from all tests and lab equipment."
PMA also asked public to take preventive measures that include covering water tanks, use of mosquito spray, nets and repellent solutions, schoolchildren should cover completely their body, avoiding self-medication in case of suspect of dengue fever.