LAHORE: (Wednesday, May 22, 2013): Punjab University Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology’s virologist Dr Muhammad Idrees has said that on the basis of data collected from different parts of the city, it can be predicted that there is no chance of dengue outbreak this year. He was giving presentation in a meeting of Dengue Research Group at Al-Raazi Hall here on Wednesday.

PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Chairman Dengue Research Group Dr Saeed Akhter, University of Health Sciences’ senior professor Dr Muhammad Aslam and a large number of members were present on the occasion. Dr Idrees said that as many as 667 samples had been collected from Ravi Town, Gulberg, Wagah, Cantonment and Iqbal Town from January 2013 to May 2013 and according to the analysis of samples, only 200 to 250 cases of dengue fever were likely to be reported in the current year and there was no chance of dengue outbreak. In his presentation, Chairman Dengue Research Group Dr Saeed Akhter said that most of university area remained free of dengue larvaes. He said that active measures should be taken from August to November this year to destroy breeding sites and control dengue larvae and mosquitoes. Shaista Pervaiz Malik said that the dengue fever was controlled because of community participation and active role of government departments. She said that the government would take all-out measures to prevent the disease. PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran appreciated the efforts of team members of Dengue Research Group.