LAHORE - Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh Salman Rafiq on Monday said that latest methods would be adopted for dengue control to minimize damage to environment.
Chairing a meeting to review proposals regarding biological control of dengue at Civil Secretariat on Monday, he said that there was need to take benefits from modern research for effective control of epidemics.
Experts from British Company OXITEC Ltd., Kevin Gorman, Hadyn Parry besides Secretary Health Dr Ijaz Munir, Director General Health Dr Zahid Pervaiz, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Prof Faisal Masood, Prof Muhammad Ali of SIMS, Dean IPH Prof Mohaz Ahmed, Incharge Chief Minister’s Dengue Research Cell Prof Waseem Akram, Dr Jafar Ilyas, officers of PITB and other medical experts were also present.
The meeting discussed in detail the use of genetically engineered mosquito for eradication of dengue. British experts said that genetically engineered mosquitoes have been used successfully in Brazil and other countries for eradicating of dengue.
The meeting also formed a technical committee to formulate recommendations regarding the use of genetically engineered mosquito for controlling dengue.
The committee will submit its recommendations in the light of local weather conditions, impact of temperature on this mosquito and laboratory tests so that final decision could be taken regarding its use in an environmental and human friendly conditions.