ISLAMABAD: Over 1,100 dengue cases have been reported in the federal capital this year, double the number of cases reported last year.

However, the district administration which is supervising the anti-dengue campaign in the federal capital is optimistic about putting a hold on the epidemic in the coming days.

`No doubt the number of cases is [much higher] than the previous year, but the number of cases have started decreasing during the last few days because of our efforts,` Islamabad Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Mushtaq Ahmed said.

He said the worst affected arefour union councils in the capital`s rural areas, from where cases have been reported continuously.

A total of 533 cases were reported in Islamabad last year, and the figure this year has reached 1,138.

The situation in the urban areas, however, is quite satisfactory with only 44 reported cases.

The deputy commissioner said around 600 employees are involved in the anti-dengue campaign.

`We have a sufficient supply fumigation spray, and the issue of storage of the transport facility has also been resolved since we hired 16 private vehicles for the campaign,` Mr Ahmed said, adding that the long summer was one of the main reasons for the outbreak.`Normally, cold weather starts after Sept 15, and dengue larva can`t survive. However, this year the heat spell ended on Oct 5,` he said.

District Health Officer Dr Tahir told Dawn there were various reasons for the outbreak.

`[Islamabad`s] border areas are locatednear to Rawalpindi,which is in the grip of the virus. Perhaps, because of the rigorous campaign launched by Rawalpindi, the virus moved towards our side,` he said.

Dr Tahir added that health directorate teams were in action and were conducting fogging and spraying anti-mosquito pesticides across Islamabad, with special focusontheruralareas.

He said fumigation is being carried out at 48 houses around thehouse from where a positive case is reported. He said campaign workers have been provided 26 mobile phones to update the control cell on the fumigation drive and so on.

`We are doing our best, but without the participation of the local community we cannot achieve the desired results. That is why we have also geared up awareness drives,` Dr Tahir said.

Dr Hassan Urooj, who is supervising the campaign on behalf of the Capital Development Authority, said only 44 cases were reported from the city due to the ef fective strategy.

`We are cooperating with the local administration; all the stakeholders are working together to fight the dengue epidemic,` he said.