24 New Dengue Cases Reported in Rawalpindi

News Desk 

Rawalpindi:The District Health Authority (DHA) on Thursday reported 24 new dengue cases in Rawalpindi during the past 24 hours, raising the total number of confirmed cases this year to 889.

According to the DHA, a total of 13,190 suspected dengue patients have been screened in hospitals so far, with 58 confirmed patients currently under treatment. No deaths have been reported in the district this year.

The authority said that 1,361 dedicated vector surveillance teams inspected over 5.6 million premises across the district, identifying 177,529 dengue-positive sites. Around 201,330 larvae were destroyed at 23,801 hotspots.

To curb violations of anti-dengue regulations, the administration has registered 4,477 FIRs, sealed 1,854 premises, issued 3,504 challans, and imposed fines amounting to Rs10.9 million.

The areas with fresh cases include Chaman Zaar Colony, Dhoke Munshi, Gangal, Dhamial, Dhoke Hassu North, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed North, Dhoke Kala Khan, Shakrial South, Pindora, Wah Cantt, and adjoining localities.

Punjab to launch anti-polio campaign from October 13

The Punjab government will launch a province-wide anti-polio campaign from October 13, aiming to vaccinate more than 22.5 million children under the age of five.

The campaign will continue for seven days in Lahore and five days in all other districts.

A meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Polio Eradication, chaired by Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir and Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman, reviewed preparations for the drive. Senior officials, including the Chief Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Uzma Kardar and representatives of partner organizations, attended the meeting.

Expressing concern over the detection of poliovirus in Lahore’s environmental samples, the task force decided to conduct a special campaign in 122 union councils of the city in November. It also directed security arrangements for polio teams in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Mianwali.

Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir said that despite progress, the continued presence of poliovirus remains a serious concern. “It is absolutely critical that every child is vaccinated to stop transmission,” he stressed.

Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman directed deputy commissioners to ensure special vaccination arrangements in flood-affected areas and deploy dedicated teams at inter-provincial borders and transit points.

Provincial Polio Program Head Adeel Tasawur briefed the meeting that around 200,000 polio workers will participate in the campaign.