Rain spell increases chances of dengue spread

MULTAN: The recent spell of rains has increased the chances of dengue spread.

The city district administration has directed the departments concerned to take emergency measures to combat spread of dengue in urban as well as rural areas. An urgent meeting held here on Thursday to review preventive measures on dengue spread. Deputy Commissioner Mudassar Riaz Malik said that the recent spell of rains had increased the possibilities of dengue spread. He said the city administration had issued high alert to all the district government departments. He directed the health department to take protective measures and launch full-fledged awareness drive on dengue spread.

The meeting sought an in-depth cooperation from the public and civil society to protect the citizens from dengue. The health officials said that a quantitative association between rainfall and the number of dengue cases was found during the first wet period. The lag time between the onset of heavy rain and dengue outbreak was about two to three months. At least 120 per cent increase in the number of dengue cases was observed when the monthly rainfall was 300mm or more. The rains provide ample environment to dengue spread.

They said that dengue infection symptoms usually begin 4–7 days after the mosquito bite and typically last for 3–10 days. The DC directed the officials to ensure clean environment and drain out rainwater from low-lying areas on urgent basis.