'Eliminate mosquito spawning sites to control chikungunya'

Prevention is the sole solution to the vector borne diseases which have gripped the city, said a leading clinical biologist.

Chikungunya and dengue haemorrhagic fever are spreading at an alarming rate in the metropolis, said Dr Suman Nadeem, a clinical microbiologist consultant.

She emphasised that preventing these diseases is possible by eliminating mosquito breeding sites. She urged citizens to take necessary precautions to prevent chikungunya and dengue.

Dr Nadeem, head of microbiology department at the National Medical Center, shared these insights on Wednesday during a public awareness programme titled Dengue and Chikungunya organised by the Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) at the University of Karachi, held at the LEJ National Science Information Centre. The event was organised in collaboration of Dr Panjwani Center and the Sindh Innovation, Research and Education Network (SIREN) to raise public awareness about these significant health issues.

She explained that chikungunya is a mosquito-borne illness caused by the chikungunya virus, transmitted by the same mosquitoes that spread dengue. Symptoms of chikungunya include severe joint pain and swelling, nerve pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash.