Chairman Pakistan Medical Society, Dr Masood Akhtar Sheikh has said preventive measures should be taken to control mosquitos that spread dengue. Addressing a workshop on 'Dengue Preventive measures', Dr Sheikh said mosquito 'Aedes Aegypti', has the ability to reproduce in a very thin film of fresh water, as thin as one rupee coin.
He said that during life cycle, a mosquito passes through eggs, larva, pupa, and finally adult mosquito, in an average time of one week. That was the reason that fresh water left for one week is a potential source for Aedes Aegypti breeding. "All efforts should be directed to avoid even such a thin film of fresh water in any vessel longer than 5-6 days during this season. A very simple method to avoid the breeding of the dengue virus mosquito is keep on changing water at least once in 5 days, in flower pots, water kept in the trays of water pots, water left in bottles, bath tubs, even the water tanks," he said.
Dr Sheikh said there has been no specific treatment for dengue fever. Anybody suspecting the dengue should not use Asprin or any form of NSAID as these can be dangerous, and may result in bleeding due to platelet dysfunction, he added. Dr Sheikh said that dengue fever is a self limiting disease with almost 100 percent recovery, but at the same time Dengue Hemorrhagic fever & dengue shock syndrome can be dangerous. There has been no effective dengue vaccine; prevention is the only tool for the control, he added. Vice President PMS, Dr Israr Hussain said that Pakistan Medical Society has been chalking out an effective dengue preventive campaign, to create awareness about simple and cost effective methods of controlling this disease.