LAHORE: A cabinet committee on dengue has revealed that 80 per cent dengue larvae are being reported from room coolers.

It has been suggested that awareness should be created among people to drain out water from room-coolers and keep them dry to avoid dengue mosquito breeding.

Attended by officials of health and other departments, the meeting was presided over by Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique.

The meeting was told that the number of dengue patients had increased manifold due to the stagnant floodwater in Muridke and Ferozewala.

DCO retired Capt Muhammad Usman briefed the meeting that dengue larvae were found in 119 houses and 73 outdoor places in only one day on Sept 16.

He said at least 190 FIRs had been lodged and 28 arrests made on account of the violation of dengue regulations in Lahore during Sept 1 to 16.

Health Additional Director-General Dr Islam Zafar said that 61 confirmed dengue patients had been reported till Sept 16 as against 139 patients during the said period in 2013.

“Currently nine dengue patients are under treatment at Mayo Hospital in Lahore and four at the Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi and the condition of all patients is stable,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2014