Dengue rages on as spray teams continue to miss crucial areas

The Punjab government’s claim of spraying the metropolitan against dengue is confined to commercials and advertisements, as many areas are still awaiting spray, Pakistan Today has learnt. A survey conducted in the residential areas of Ichra, Rehmanpura, Samnabad, Fasial Town, Township, Johar Town, Iqbal Town, Wapda Town and their adjacent areas revealed that these localities were still without spray despite the fact that the spraying campaign has been ongoing for over two months. Wajid Munir, a resident of Township Sect A-1 said, “Our area has still not been sprayed despite the fact that it is a government colony. Two dengue patients have been reported this month, but the spraying has still not happened.”Another patient Hasnain of the PIA Colony says there area was sprayed but in spite of that he contracted dengue and stayed for almost three weeks in Ittefaq Hospital.On the other hand, Aslam from the slums of Township said, “I am a poor man. Government should focus on slums because there are many mosquitoes here.” So far the official registered patients are 191 since March 2012; including 3 are confirmed today from Data Town and Nishter Town. Sources claimed that 6 patients are reported in Government Nawaz Sharif Hospital and 4 in Jinnah. Talking to Pakistan Today, Health EDO Dr Inamul Haq said the government is focusing on larviciding and indoor residence spray (IRS) this year because the spray is toxic for humans also. “Only those areas and houses are being sprayed where there are reported cases of dengue, while people expect that each and every household should be sprayed which is not feasible,” he added. The government has educated the people so much on dengue that now the people should keep their households clean to prevent incidence of dengue.