A meeting of the District Emergency and Response Committee on dengue was held at the Deputy Commissioner Office to review surveillance and ongoing anti-dengue measures in Rawalpindi.The meeting was jointly chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters Abdul Rehman Khan and Cabinet Committee on Dengue member Dr Waseem Akram, and attended by officials of all relevant departments. Officials were given a detailed briefing on dengue situation, surveillance and field activities. 

Addressing the meeting, Abdul Rehman Khan directed all departments to enhance their field presence and intensify surveillance in high-risk union councils, warning that negligence in anti-dengue efforts would not be tolerated. Dr Waseem Akram stressed the need for stronger inter-departmental coordination and focused action on hotspots, saying timely response and public awareness were key to preventing the spread of dengue.

According to the briefing, a total of 933 cases had been reported so far in 2026, including one confirmed, 26 non-dengue and 906 suspected cases.   Under indoor vector surveillance, over 1.6 million houses were checked, with larvae found in more than 14,000 houses. During outdoor surveillance, over 598,000 locations were inspected, with more than 2,000 positive cases detected. It was further informed that since April 13, over 345,000 houses and more than 100,000 outdoor spots had been monitored, while over 1,000 teams were active across the district. 

From April 1 to 27, action was taken on over 11,000 larvae-related cases, with 98 percent addressed promptly and only 2 percent pending. Officials said 69 FIRs had been registered, 201 challans issued and fines amounting to Rs. 224,500 imposed during the ongoing campaign. The meeting directed authorities to further improve monitoring of hotspots and coordination among departments to effectively curb dengue spread. Citizens were also urged to maintain cleanliness and avoid stagnant water.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)