Another spell of dengue epidemic expected from February: LDA

Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Director General Abdul Jabbar Shaheen said that another spell of dengue epidemic is likely to continue from the second week of February 2012 to the first week of April 2012.
Thus, he called upon the people for drying and destroying the breeding places of mosquito by the beginning of February 2012 for controlling this menace.
He expressed these views while addressing an awareness seminar on 'Causes and prevention of dengue fever' held under the auspices of LDA here on Saturday. Director DG's (HQ) LDA Fawad Amir Chaudhry, medical officers of LDA Dr Nisar Ahmed and Dr Rukhsana Malik and medical officers of PHA Dr Shahzad Afzal and Dr Ayesha were also present at this occasion. The seminar was attended by all the officers of LDA, Wasa and Tepa.
On the occasion, he also announced to establish a free help line (111-111-532) for carrying out anti-mosquito fogging and rectifying other complaints regarding dengue in the LDA housing schemes as well as private housing societies approved by it.
Addressing the seminar, the Director General observed that dengue was not a disease but a social problem, which could only be tackled by involving the community. "It cannot be eradicated; it has to be controlled tactfully. Combating dengue in Lahore was a new experience and a challenge for the administration.
Foreign experts from Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thai Land who visited Lahore had told us that this was the biggest ever epidemic in the world, which came to Lahore this year. But as a result of well-co-ordinated efforts of the government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Punjab, nearly 25,000 precious lives have been saved in the city," he added. He advised the people for adopting precautionary measures against dengue and repeatedly carrying out anti-mosquito sprays in their houses, offices and work places. He urged all the people to fulfil their social responsibility and keep their houses as well as the streets clean.