PESHAWAR: The authorities have imposed Section 144 in the provincial capital to cope with the outbreak of dengue fever.

According to a press release, deputy commissioner has imposed Section 144 on putting tyres and flower pots with water in front of shops, throwing wastage in canals besides mapping of the provincial metropolis to take preventive measures against haemorrhagic dengue fever.

The deputy commissioner has also imposed ban on swimming in the pools in the limits of Peshawar as a precautionary measure under dengue control plan. `Anyone found violating these orders will be preceded in accordance with the law,` said the press release.

Meanwhile, a report by health department said that a total of 290 positive cases of dengue were recorded of the total l,527 screened throughout the province during the last 24 hours. It said that 499 patients were still under treatmentin differenthospital.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said here on Monday that government evolved a mechanism to control dengue virus.

He said that government formed monitoring and surveillance teams to collect authenticated data.

According to a statement, the chief minister said that different responsibilities were assigned to different tiers of government to handle the situation regarding treatment of af fected people and the whole rehabilitation process.

Talking to a delegation of Rotary Club, he highlighted the steps taken by the government for controlling dengue virus.

He said that previously the province had experienced an outbreak in Swat that was controlled ef fectively.

Meanwhile, the participants of a seminar at the health secretariat were told that prevention was the better way to getridofdenguefever.

Health Secretary Abid Majeed said on the occasion that they had sought technical assistance from Punjab mobile health unit. He said that government diverted resources to put brakes on the endemics and asked people to adopt protective measures against mosquitoes.

`The suspected patients are provided with free of cost diagnostic and treatment f acilities at public sector hospitals throughout the province,` said Mr Majeed.

He said they were close to prevention of the ailment through coordinated efforts with other departments. Our Correspondent from Abbottabad adds: Eight dengue patients were treated in Ayub Teaching Hospital. Briefing journalists here on Monday, the public relations officer of the hospital said that dengue patients were provided with free treatment at the isolation ward. Among the admitted patients, two persons each belong to Haripur, Havelian and Abbottabad while one each belong to Mansehra and Kohistan.

No record of patients af fected with dengue was available at district headquarter hospital, regional health centres and basic health units. According to media manager of Abbottabad Medical Complex, special cell has been established in the district headquarters hospital for dengue patients.