DENGUE SURVEYA comprehensive and detailed survey of the college and hostel premises was done on 10th of August 2012 for identification and detection of breeding places of mosquitoes and water collection points, as per office order, Ref no. LM&DC/ 12631-34/2012 dated: 08/08/12.The survey team included following staff:

1. Dr Humayun Mirza,

Department of Community Medicine, LMDC (Focal person for Dengue)

2. Mr Saqib, IT Department(AV Manager)

3. Mr Abid Ali (Sanitary Inspector LMDC)Approximately 90 sites were identified in college vicinity and boys + girls hostels. Pictures were captured and burned to a CD for record.A written request letter along with the recorded snaps was

given to Dr Zamin Ali, Director Administration, LMDC Lahore. A request was made to take an urgent and appropriate action on this report, so as to further minimize and eradicate the danger of Dengue spread at LMDC.

DENGUE PREVENTION CELL LMDC, LAHORE

Principal’s Message

Dengue has become a public health problem in our country. Provincial government is taking maximum measures to control and prevent this menace. Control and prevention of Dengue is not possible merely by government efforts. It is national duty of everyone to actively participate in the campaign against dengue. In Lahore Medical & Dental College, we are taking all steps to control and prevent dengue in college and hostels. A dengue prevention cell has been established under control of Dr Humayun Mirza, Community Medicine Department and this cell reports to Dr Zamin Ali, Director Administration. We are periodically circulating to all Heads of Departments and others, pamphlets containing control and preventive measures. In addition, we are also regularly fog spraying entire interior and exterior of college and hostel buildings with approved insecticide. Very recently, a team surveyed the college and hostels premises to detect water collection points which breed the mosquitoes. On the recommendations of this team, Director Administration immediately issued directions to Assistant Wardens, Sub Engineer and Sanitary Inspector to eliminate all water collection points, arrange to remove rubbish from different places and most importantly the removal of unserviceable tyres. The action was taken quickly to eliminate water stagnation points. Directions were also issued to all concerned to ensure that water does not stagnate and rubbish is not allowed to collect.In addition to these measures, awareness among persons is also very necessary to control and prevent Dengue. Therefore, we are contemplating to arrange lectures on control and prevention of Dengue. The students with this knowledge will be in a better position to inform their friends and relatives about Dengue and its control/prevention. In this way, the awareness will be spreading among maximum number of persons. The awareness plays a major part in the prevention of Dengue. We will continue our efforts unabated to take control and preventive measures in our college and hostels. I request every person in the college and hostels to actively participate in this national campaign against Dengue in whatever way he/she can.

Prof. Majeed Chaudary

NEWS LETTERNo. 2

A prompt action was taken by Director Administration, Dr Zamin Ali and letters were issued to Assistant Wardens, Boys & Girls Hostels LMDC. Copies send to Sub Engineer and Sanitary Inspector at LMDC also.

Requests were made to them for a round and ensure that college and Hostels are cleared of water collection points and rubbish.

They are asked to keep a constant watch and ensure that water is not allowed to stagnate at any place. Particular attention is

requested to be paid to the roofs and balconies of hostels, so as to make them clear of any rubbish etc. A compliance report has been requested within three days to Director Administration, Dr Zamin Ali for record and informing the concerned authorities.

Dengue mosquitoes

• Bite during the daytime with peak biting times two hours either side of dusk/dawn• Do not like to be seen and often hide in dark areas such as closets bathrooms, behind curtains or under ledges/beds• Are nervous feeders & easily disturbed while biting and will rapidly fly away before seeking another victim• Cannot be heard• Attack from behind or below, often ankles and shins• Have greater number during the wet season but are present all year round, there is no ‘safe season’• Live in urban areas reproducing in pools of warm shallow water• Have a limited flight range of 100-200m and never live more than 90m from human dwellings

DO • Use regular Mospel mosquito repellent during the day

from dusk till dawn, use 30% formulas as these last 3-5 hours, this is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding but not recommended in babies under 2 months

• Wear loose fitting light coloured clothing, long trousers and long sleeves as you can get bitten through tight clothes and dark colours trap body gasses attracting mosquitoes

• Spray or impregnate your clothing with permethrin, this insecticide kills insects on contact and should not be put on the skin, this will last four washes

• Stay in air-conditioned accommodation with the windows shut where possible

• Follow repellent instructions & wash your hands afterwards

• Apply sunscreen before repellent• Use insecticide coils or plug-in mist dispersers • If your accommodation does not have screens on the

windows or air-conditioning sleep under an appropriately sized permethrin impregnated mosquito net with 18-25 holes per square cm

DON’T• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen,

diclofenac and naproxen• Aspirin as this can further reduce the clotting factors in

your blood• Leave pots or containers outside as they can become

breeding grounds for mosquitoes• Go barefoot or expose large areas of skin• Spray repellents directly into your face, you can use a

cream or spray repellent on your hands and then rub it on your face

• Swallow repellent or apply to cuts and grazes