'Research cell for eradication of dengue virus being set up'

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that a comprehensive long term preventive and curative plan against dengue virus in the province should be evolved by October 15 and all out resources would be provided for implementation of this plan.
He was presiding over a meeting held to devise short, medium and long term strategy regarding preventive and curative measures against dengue virus and other viral diseases here on Saturday, disclosed an official. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Chief Secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa, Chairman Planning & Development Javed Aslam, Secretary Health Jehanzeb Khan, prominent physician Professor Dr Faisal Masood and experts attended the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, he said Institute of Public Health is also being activated and mobilised in which special attention will be paid to the research for controlling viral diseases. "A research cell for eradication of dengue virus and other diseases is also being set up under his direct supervision, which will exclusively carry out research regarding dengue and other viral diseases and take steps for their eradication," he added.
Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said an effective strategy is being formulated and special groups of experts are being constituted for this purpose, which will focus all their attention to combat this virus. He also said it is need of hour to fully activate and mobilise the Institute of Public Health and the best competent doctors and experts should be included in it. "Besides activating Institute of Public Health, a separate research cell is also being set up and the experts included in it will carry out research for eradication of dengue virus and other viral diseases and take steps for their elimination," he added.
Renowned physician Professor Dr Faisal Masood, being the head of the committee, said besides allocating separate wards for dengue in hospitals, including the subject of dengue in the syllabus of medical education and doctors' training, this committee will formulate a strategy keeping in view all matters. He said effective steps are very essential for eradication of dengue virus in future and no effort should be spared in this regard. He said publication of informative subjects for preventive measures and protecting from dengue virus should be arranged and prominent doctors should be included in this process.
"The special research cell, besides taking steps for eradication of dengue virus, would also pay attention to the development of anti-dengue vaccine. No anti-dengue vaccine has been developed in the world so far. It is hoped that with the blessing of Allah Almighty and hard working of experts, Pakistan might become the first country of developing anti-dengue vaccine," he added.