Conference and Workshop on “Dengue Infection in Pakistan & its Controlling Strategies”

An International Conference and Workshop on “Dengue Infection in Pakistan & its Controlling Strategies” organized by the Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University was held. The objective of the conference was to discuss the existing and newest therapeutic techniques and diagnostic tools for dengue Infection.

Dr. Arshad Taqi, President, Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) attended the event as chief guest and inaugurated the conference. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali, Vice Chancellor, Quaid-i-Azam University, welcomed the delegates and lauded the efforts of the organizers of the international conference.

Earlier Dr. Naveeda Akhtar Qureshi, Focal Person of the conference, Associate Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, QAU shared the objective of the conference historical background of the dengue outbreak in Pakistan. She said in Pakistan from last two decades dengue is one of the emerging public health concerns, leaving millions of human lives at risk. The first noxious dengue outbreak in the country was recorded in 2011 Lahore (eastern part Pakistan) with 21685 cases of dengue and 350 deaths. According to World Health Organization (WHO) on November 19, 2019, a total of 47,120 confirmed dengue cases, including 75 related fatalities, have been reported.

Prof. Dr. Amy Morison from Department of Entomology, University of California, as keynote speaker shared her research work on the issue. The experts were of the opinion that multiple vector controlling techniques should be approached including CRISPER-Cas9 genetic control, Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), Wolbachia infected Aedes spp mosquito etc. The control of dengue vector mosquito (Aedes spp) and elimination of its breeding sites should be emphasized and prioritized which will reduce the risk of Dengue Virus transmission in Pakistan.