Regional dengue workshop commences at NCP

ISLAMABAD: There is clear and palpable need to take tangible steps to ensure that in future the risk of dengue is minimised. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Director General Hospitals Zubair Hasan said this while addressing the inaugural session of five-day “2nd Regional Dengue Workshop,” at National Centre for Physics.

He said, “Dengue is a simmering epidemic in Pakistan with ever increasing magnitude from the first reported cases in 1994. Preventive efforts need to be a multi-pronged, both as a short and a long term strategy.”

Hasan said International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) involvement with the dengue epidemic is due in large part to the development of a long term strategy. “In addition to the conventional chemical spraying we need to adopt biological control measures also,” he said.

While addressing as the chief guest, Capital Administration and Development (CAAD) Secretary Riffat Shaheen said there was no preventive vaccine and neither was there a treatment that specifically kills the dengue virus. Preventive measures to avoid infection are the only course that needs to be focused upon, she said.

Riffat Shaheen said this workshop will have tremendous contribution in building the capacity of health care provider, scientists and researchers who have been involved in the formidable task of battling this killer disease. PAEC in collaboration with IAEA and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is hosting the workshop. Health care providers, scientists and researchers from various parts of Pakistan will participate in the workshop.

The aim of the workshop is to enable the participants to understand the mechanics involved in evolving a long term strategy towards Dengue control.

Dr Hasan said that Pakistan was plagued by the incidence of dengue fever for the past several years and last year, more than 25,000 confirmed cases of dengue fever were registered while there were 322 deaths. app

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