The Punjab government has formed a new, independent directorate to deal with the possible threat of dengue in the future, Pakistan Today has learnt
The new directorate, which will work in all the 36 districts, has been started under the Environment Protection Agency.
So far, the department had been functioning under the EPA on adhoc basis but will not function independently and will begin inspection and surveys soon, sources told Pakistan Today.
In the first phase, team of four inspectors has been formed from the Environmental Department, sources said, adding that this team was expected to start working soon.
Dengue fever is now the fastest spreading insect-borne virus in the world and has reached “epidemic potential”. Dengue is transmitted by mosquitoes which also spreads yellow fever — and typically causes flu-like symptoms, headache and skin rash. The disease is incredibly painful and debilitating. In November 2010, more than 21,204 people were reportedly infected and most of them were from Punjab. As of November 2011, it killed over 300 people in the last several months and over 14,000 are infected by this mosquito-borne disease.
The government of Punjab has opened a hotline called Punjab Health Line for dengue which works day and night. This is to facilitate the circulation on the signs and symptoms of dengue, reach for help for suspected cases and ultimately help identify areas where the epidemic may have reached.
