Raising awareness: ‘CM’s anti-dengue efforts are commendable’

Virologist Idrees Khan says no danger of dengue outbreak.

LAHORE: Virologist Idrees Khan of Punjab University (PU) said on Wednesday that there was no danger of a dengue outbreak this year.

He was addressing a seminar organised by Punjab University’s Dengue Research Group. Khan said the group had warned the government about a dengue outbreak last year. He said the government had taken steps to remedy this on receiving the information.



PU Dengue Research Group Chairman Saeed Akhter gave a presentation on dengue virus on the occasion. He said it was mandatory for the people to keep their offices and residences clean and dry to prevent dengue. Akhter said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s efforts on the anti-dengue front were commendable. He stressed the need for collective effort in this regard.

PU Vice-Chancellor Mujahid Kamran urged the media to cautiously cover instances of dengue mosquito larvae detection. He said it was necessary to authenticate such reports as all mosquito larvae could not be attributed to Aedis aegypti.

Kamran said failure to do this would only create panic among the people. He said it was necessary to adopt measures to prevent the spread of dengue fever.

Kamran said the varsity had taken several initiatives to raise awareness regarding dengue fever among teachers, students and its employees.

Life Sciences Dean Naeem Khan, Zoology Chairman Javed Iqbal Qazi and PU Chief Medical Officer Nauman Ahmed were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2015.