MINGORA, Dec 2: Swat deputy commissioner Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah has said that a massive awareness campaign against dengue epidemic would begin from January 1, next year. He also said a vector surveillance campaign was scheduled to start from April 1 to ensure removal of larva through chemical methods.

Talking to Dawn here on Monday he said dengue was at its peak during September, adding that due to effective strategy and steps taken by local administration and health department the situation was brought under control in last three months.

`Dengue epidemic has now been controlled as not a single case has been reported after November 20,` Mr Shah said, adding his administration had chalked out a comprehensive strategy to eradicate larva by applying chemical methods.

Besides, he said a massive campaign would begin from January 1st to educate the people about the causes of dengue fever. `Our focus will be on the areas that had been affected by mosquito-borne disease during current year, he added.

Mr Shah said vector surveillance teams would visit the worst affected union councils to search for breading places of larva to remove it chemically.

Meanwhile, chief executive of Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital Dr Taj Mohammad Khan said dengue wards set up at the hospital had been closed as the epidemic was now under control.

He said dengue epidemic continued from August 14 to November 20 during which they examined 59,060 patients, and of them over 11,000 tested positive.