Gulberg, Cantt, Model Town and Defence Housing Authority (DHA) are areas being severely hit by dengue, as a majority of cases are being reported from these posh localities, Punjab Health Director General (DG) Aslam Chaudhry said on Monday. He was speaking at a press conference about creating awareness about dengue at his office. Aslam said that a majority of houses in the aforementioned posh localities had fountains and big lawns, which were perfect breeding grounds for dengue mosquito. The health DG said that the Punjab government had made a plan and fumigation in these areas would continue from the third day of Eid. People in posh localities should remove the breeding grounds for mosquito from within their houses, he said. Aslam said that 8 degrees Celsius to 28 was the most favourable temperature for breeding of dengue mosquito and houses with air conditioners provide this low temperature for them and hence the incidence of dengue was greater in these areas. He said that 2.5 billion people worldwide were at risk of being infected with dengue and many countries had this disease. Aslam said that the Punjab government had already provided free diagnostic and treatment facilities to the people. He appreciated the role of the media in highlighting various deficiencies in government efforts and creating awareness among people. Punjab Health Secretary Jahanzeb Khan said that the Punjab government had taken account of the situation and fogging and spray campaign was already going on across the city. He said that fogging alone could not help remove the problem and other measures need to be taken as well.
