The health department workers used expired sprays and medicines during the anti-dengue campaign; hence the outcome of these efforts was negative as the expired vaccines could not destroy the dengue larvae that continue to reproduce.
According to reports, the health department fears the spread of dengue pestilence during the upcoming monsoon season. In this regard, the Punjab government recently hired the services of a third party to inspect the progress of the anti-dengue campaigns. According to sources, under the directives of the Punjab government, the district health department vowed to eliminate the plague of dengue by launching anti-dengue campaigns and special teams were deployed in different areas of city and cantonment.
The third party investigated the cause of reproduction of dengue larvae despite the anti-dengue campaigns. Further assessments of the third party revealed that expired anti-dengue sprays and medicines were used.
The issue was raised in a meeting held to review the progress of anti-dengue campaigns chaired by adviser to Punjab chief minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique. Health Department Executive District Officer Dr Arshad Ali Sabir said that the anti-dengue sprays and medicines used during the campaigns were not expired. The containers of these medicines are old but the medicines are still usable, he added.
