RAWALPINDI, May 16: The District Health Department on Wednesday started the anti-dengue spray in 17 union councils where five dengue patients were detected last year.

Talking to Dawn, District Officer Health (Urban) Dr. Ansar Ishaq said that the department had completed the fumigation in 29 union councils from where more than 10 dengue patients came to the hospitals last year. He said that the anti-dengue spray in 17 union councils would be completed by the end of May.

He said that the second phase of larvicidal activity also started simultaneously in all the 46 union councils of the city and the activity would continue till Oct 31. He said that the anti-dengue medicines would be sprayed at all the main roads, streets and areas in and around of three government-run hospitals, Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital.

He said that the department had already sprayed medicines to eliminate the larvae of mosquitoes in those areas from where the suspected dengue fever patients came to the hospitals during March to May this year. He said the teams sprayed the areas around DHQ Hospital, Hazara Colony, Haji Chowk and Novelty Cinema area near Mohanpura, Dhoke Ratta, Pirwadhai and others.— A Reporter