'76 dengue fever patients died since 2005'

As many as 76 out of 8040 patients suffering from dengue fever have lost their lives since 2005 in Pakistan, according to the government sources. This was stated by Dr Imtiaz Ahmad of Karachi University while addressing the participants of a three-day international zoological congress, in his presentation on "Dengue Fever in Karachi: it's Devastation and Management in the Insecticide-Free Environment".
Pointing out the symptoms of the disease, he said Dengue Fever is usually very fatal and is very serious in children and patients of old age. In this disease, blood runs from different parts of the body and sudden decrease in blood pressure takes place, he maintained.
While highlighting the breading areas of the virus, Dr Imtiaz said the mosquito, having dengue virus, grows in contaminated and clean-static water. Dr Imtiaz suggested the masses to control seepage, use scheduled water delivery to avoid excess watering, reduce or eliminate vegetation and debris in ditches and other water containment structures, eliminate mosquito habitats in impoundment and fill or drain water-holding areas, and fill or deepen shallow areas where the larvae lives.
He urged the government as well as the civil society to mobilise the masses and sensitise them about the growing threat and hold advocacy meetings in this regard. He also recommended launching 'clean-up campaigns' and environmental sanitation drives. In another presentation, Dr M. Nasim Sadiqi enlightened the participants about the consequences of climate change.
He stressed the need to alter cropping pattern, introduce drought & heat resistant crops, enhance national food storage capacity, introduce alternate feed sources for livestock, extend subsides, micro-credits & insurance faculties to small farmers and diversify their livelihood options.
He stressed that it is required on urgent basis to protect against destructive climate impact on water resources, agriculture and food security. Dr Khalid Mahmood from the Department of Agriculture Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, AJK University, Rawalakot Campus, spoke about the agro-ecological bases of ecological engineering for pest management.