No fear of dengue outbreak this year: experts

Punjab University Dengue Research Group's (DRG) experts have predicted that according to results of laboratory tests on adult dengue mosquitoes, larvae and other samples, there is no fear of dengue outbreak this year.
They were quoting facts and figures in a seminar organized by PU Department of Zoology regarding dengue awareness and preventive measures at Al Raazi Hall here on Monday. PU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran, MPA Khawaja Imran Nazir, Chairman Department of Zoology Professor Dr Muhammad Akhter, Chairman Dengue Research Group Professor Dr Saeed Akhter, Dr Muhammad Idrees, Dr Abdul Ghaffar from Comsat Islamabad, Resident Officer II Malik Muhammad Zaheer, faculty members, employees and students were present on the occasion. Addressing the ceremony, member PU DRG and Virologist Dr Idrees Khan said World Health Organisation and SIMS had sent five samples of suspected dengue patients having symptoms of dengue fever but no sample was found positive.
He said in the laboratories of Centre for Excellence in Molecular Biology, 706 larvae and 169 adult dengue mosquitoes were tested out of which 12 and five were found positive, respectively, and overall positivity rate was 1.94 percent. Addressing the ceremony, PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran said the predictions of PU DRG set up by the administration had come true so far. He said for the first time CIA tested dengue in Florida and later it spread the disease in Cuba.
He instructed all the heads of departments, hostel wardens and superintendents to ensure cleanliness in their premises and utilise all resources to eradicate dengue from the campus. MPA Khawaja Imran Nazir said dengue control was a great challenge to Punjab government but with the day and night struggle of Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif in collaboration with the media and civil society, we had been able to control the spread of life-threatening disease.
He said this achievement had surprised Sri Lankan teams who were fighting the disease since decades and had not controlled the spread of disease so far. He said the government was in war against dengue since three years and we were after dengue mosquitoes even on Eid holidays. He said unfortunately the government was being engaged in other matters instead of public service.
He said change would not occur by changing the rulers only but until we change ourselves at individual level. Addressing the ceremony, Chairman PU DRG Professor Dr Saeed Akhter gave a detailed presentation on the samples collected from Punjab University and other areas. Later, PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran led a walk from Undergraduate Study Centre to Vice Chancellor's office in which faculty members, employees and students participated.