DW BUREAU / Chandigarh The Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, Dr. Vijay Singla has directed the speeding up of fogging process in order to prevent dengue from spreading. Chairing a meeting of the State Task Force constituted for controlling dengue, the Minister said that many cases of dengue are being reported from some parts of the country. Apart from this, some cases were also reported from Punjab due to the use of coolers in the households owing to early onset of summer. Therefore, we need to be cautious from now on. The minister directed the officers of the department that the symptoms of scrubtyphus and laptospyrosis also resemble that of dengue but these affect other organs of the body which has resulted in some deaths during last year due to these two diseases. Hence, special attention needs to be paid from preventing these from spreading. Disclosing further, the minister said that fogging needs to be accelerated in the cities, towns and villages apart from running a special awareness campaign involving children. For this, special camps must be organized in the schools to prevent dengue. He ordered the officials of Health Department to also involve NGOs in the awareness campaign. During the meeting, the Principal Secretary, Local Government Mr. Vivek Pratap Singh suggested that with a view to control dengue, a meeting under stewardship of Civil Surgeon would be necessary in order to establish District level committees. The minister ordered convening of such meetings at the earliest. He assured all assistance from the Health Department in the campaign to be run for preventing dengue. Dr. Singla directed the officers of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department to immediately rectify the malfunctioning R.O. systems anywhere in the state which have been installed to purify water. On the occasion, the Secretary, Health Department Mr. Ajoy Sharma apprised the Minister regarding the preventive measures concerning dengue and said that dengue test is done in all the Government hospitals free of cost and kits needed for testing have been made available in all such hospitals. He also added that orders have also been given for preparing dengue wards in the hospitals. A poster by the Health Department making people aware with regard to prevention of dengue was also released on the occasion. Among others present included MD, NHM Mr. T.P.S. Phoolka, MD, PHSC Neelima, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. G.B. Singh and the officers from the Rural Development and Panchayats, State Transport, Medical Education and Research, School Education, Labour, Water Supply & Sanitation, Senior Regional Director Health and Family Welfare and Indian Medical Association representatives. (editor@dailyworld.in)