Defeat dengue fever: Public urged to be extra careful during wet spell

Keep surroundings clean, drain accumulated water, experts say.

FAISALABAD:

Elaborate precautions must be taken against dengue fever during wet spells as they mark the onset of the dengue mosquito season, experts said at a dengue awareness seminar at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad on Sunday.    

The seminar was arranged by the UAF’s Department of Entomology at the New Senate Hall in connection with the Anti-Dengue Day. Acting Vice Chancellor Munir A Sheikh presided over the session and later led an awareness walk on the campus. UAF Agriculture Dean Muhammad Arshad, Department of Entomology Chairman Muhammad Jalal Arif, Dr Anjum Sohail and Dr Khurram Zia also spoke on the occasion.

Dr Sheikh urged people to keep their homes, environment and surroundings clean; to remove all stagnant water and containers; avoid accumulation of water and to dispose of plastic bags properly.

He advised people to get regular medical checkups and lauded steps taken by the government to control dengue fever.

Organising the Anti-Dengue Day was part of the chief minister’s campaign to create awareness about preventive measures, Dr Sheikh said, the UAF campus will be a role model in this regard.

Dr Arshad said that timely treatment of the disease reduced its impact.

Dr Arif said that his department was working on 10 projects aimed at controlling dengue fever. Awareness seminars were also being held at UAF hostels, he said.

TMA officials in Sargodha on their way to fog dengue larvae sites.   Nurses participate in an anti-dengue walk in Sargodha. PHOTO: ISRARUL HAQ AND SHAHID BUKHARI/EXPRESS

“Dengue fever patients must make sure their fever remained below 102F at all times, they should take paracetamol three or four times a day keep themselves hydrated at all times and take lots of rest,” Dr Arif said.

Dr Zia said people must avoid staying too long in parks, lawns and open grounds. “Of the 19 such locations checked in a survey, 15 had dengue mosquito larvae in the air coolers,” he said.

Swelling on the face, hands and feet, and bleeding in any part of the body indicated that the dengue fever was getting worse, Dr Anjum Sohail said. A reduction in the amount of blood platelets wasn’t just a symptom of dengue fever, he said, people lose platelets during flu and malaria as well. “Patients must remember to take rest and stay hydrated,” he said.



GCUF holds seminar on Anti-dengue Day

Several experts at a seminar held at the Government College University Faisalabad on Sunday called for active participation by the public to eliminate the threat of dengue fever.

The seminar was held in connection with the Anti-Dengue Day. Science and Technology Dean Naureen Aziz Qureshi presided over the event. Registrar Muhammad Ayub, HR Adviser Sheikh Muhammad Akram, Dr Hidayat Rasool, Dr Shabab Nasir, Dr Kashif Zahoor and Zeeshan Ahmad Khan also spoke on the occasion

Qureshi said that people must avoid allowing water to accumulate, ensure proper disposal of garbage, use mosquito repellent and carefully store tyres. She said people must keep their localities clean and drain stagnant water. “The government has taken effective steps to control the virus in a very short time,” she said, “Many other countries took years to do the same.”

The university had constituted several committees to create awareness on the directions of GCUF Vice Chancellor Zakir Hussain, Qureshi said.

Ayub said that several awareness seminars had been organised. The GCUF was collaborating with the government on the issue, he said.

Akram stressed the need to remove stagnant water where dengue mosquitoes lay eggs. He advised people to promptly seek medical help and urged students to participate in the campaign.

Dr Rasool said that active participation of all stakeholders was important to handle the situation, “dengue fever patients must drink lots of water, juices and milk.” Dr Nasir said that regular fumigation in homes and colonies should be ensures. People should also avoid sitting outdoors at dawn and in the evening, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2013.