Dengue eradication: meeting discusses use of genetically-engineered mosquitoes

Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that for the purpose of elimination of dengue mosquito, full benefit will be taken from latest inventions in the world so that damage to environment due to use of chemical methods for dengue control could be avoided.
He was presiding over a high level meeting regarding the use of the new techniques for biological control over dengue here on Monday. Experts of the British Company OXITEC Ltd, Kevin Gorman, Hadyn Parry besides Secretary Health Dr Ijaz Munir, Director General Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz, vice-chancellor King Edward Medical University Professor Dr Faisal Masood, Professor Dr Muhammad Ali of SIMS, Dean IPH Professor Mohaz Ahmed, Incharge Chief Minister's Dengue Research Cell Professor Waseem Akram, Dr Jafar Ilyas, officers of PITB and other medical experts were also present.
The meeting discussed in detail the use of genetically engineered mosquito for eradication of dengue mosquito in order to check the ill-effects of chemical methods including spray and fogging on human health. The British experts said that genetically engineered mosquitoes have been used successfully in Brazil and other countries for eradicating of dengue.
The meeting also formed a technical committee to formulate recommendations regarding the use of genetically engineered mosquito for controlling dengue. The committee will submit its recommendations in the light of local weather conditions, impact of temperature on this mosquito and laboratory tests so that final decision could be taken regarding its use in an environmental and human friendly conditions.