Dengue Research Group: Local virus same as Indian dengue

LAHORE:

Scientists tested 500 blood samples from dengue patients in Lahore General Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, Ghurki Hospital and Surgimed and found that 98 per cent had the same type of dengue found in India.

Assistant Professor Dr Idrees Khan of the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology shared these findings at the fourth meeting of the Dengue Research Group at Punjab University on Friday, according to a press release.

Prof Khan said that 41 per cent of samples from patients with low blood platelet counts tested positive for dengue, while last year only 19 per cent tested positive for dengue.

Prof Muhammad Aslam Khan of the University of Health Sciences proposed research on how the virus affected a foetus whose mother got the disease during pregnancy.

University of Veterinary and Animals Sciences (UVAS) Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Nawaz said that research was needed on the diagnostic aspects of the disease and on whether animals bitten by dengue-carrying mosquitoes became carriers of the disease. He also called for a study on where the dengue mosquito was breeding and on the insecticides being used to kill it. “We should work hard and ensure that this virus will have no existence in the next year,” he said.

Seven committees

The research group decided to set up committees on entomology, diagnostics, virology, vector control, medical issues, epidemiology and environment and ecology.

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Mujahid Kamran, who presided over the meeting, said that this made it clear who was carrying out what research and how they would collaborate.

He said that the university had raised the research budget from Rs4 million three years ago to Rs80 million this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2011.