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‘Dengue virus should be controlled before 2009

* Javed says country looking forward to an epidemic in 2009 if disease not controlled
* 1,240 dengue patients in Punjab, 20 new patients admitted in hospitals over past 24 hours

LAHORE: Immediate action is required to control the dengue virus in Punjab to avoid an epidemic in 2009, Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC) Principal Dr Javed Akram said on Wednesday.

He was addressing a press conference on ‘Causes of Dengue Fever and Preventive Measures’ at the Lahore Press Club. He said that a campaign would soon be launched to raise funds for the preparation of a dengue vaccination. He said that two foreign experts would visit the country on December 22 to deliver lectures on treatment of dengue fever. He said that a test was conducted at the Jinnah Hospital for the first time to diagnose dengue fever.

Dengue fever: He said that the disease was not contagious, adding that it had to be eliminated from houses. He expressed the need to launch an awareness programme to inform the people of how they may be most vulnerable to the dengue mosquito. He said that the mosquito was breeding in clean water, adding that most reported dengue cases had their roots in Railway surroundings. He said that mosquitoes were using water pools on railway carriages for breeding purposes. He said that if effective prevention of the disease is not carried out, the country could be suffering from an epidemic next year.

According to a report, 1,169 dengue patients have been reported in Lahore and a total of 1,240 in the Punjab. Sources within the Health Department reported 20 new dengue fever victims over the past 24 hours. Sources said that 24 patients had been discharged, while another 57 were currently under treatment. Sources also said that Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Jinnah Hospital and Mayo Hospital were currently treating patients suffering from this disease. They also said that the Lahore General Hospital and the Children’s Hospital did not hold any dengue patients currently.

Javed said that a laboratory had been set up to conduct research on various viruses, including dengue virus. He said that the Jinnah Hospital had dispatched a letter to the Punjab government, seeking permission to conduct post-mortem. app

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