The District Health Authority has taken decisive action against violations of anti-dengue standard operating procedures (SOPs) since January 1, 2024. A total of 42 FIRs have been lodged, and 48 premises have been sealed in response to these violations.
Dr. Sajjad Mehmood, the District Coordinator for Epidemics Prevention and Control (DCEPC), revealed that collaborative efforts with allied departments have resulted in the issuance of 99 tickets and fines amounting to Rs162,000 for breaches of dengue SOPs during this period.
In terms of dengue cases, the district has reported four cases so far in 2024. This figure stands in contrast to two cases reported in 2023 and one case in 2022 for the same timeframe.
Indoor vector surveillance operations have been extensive, covering 1,121,425 houses, where larvae were detected at 2,064 sites. Outdoor surveillance efforts have also been thorough, with larvae found at 493 locations out of the 290,326 sites inspected.
Dr. Sajjad emphasized the importance of proactive measures to prevent a dengue epidemic. He highlighted the development of a comprehensive micro plan by the district health authority based on previous year’s statistics. The objective is to prevent dengue from reaching epidemic levels by ensuring thorough screening of every nook and corner of the district.
Through concerted efforts and effective planning, the authorities aim to curb the spread of dengue and protect public health. The focus remains on stringent enforcement of SOPs, comprehensive surveillance, and timely interventions to mitigate the risk of dengue outbreaks.
