Chandigarh: Pushpa Gujral Science City celebrated National Dengue Day by organizing a webinar on “Strategies to prevent Dengue epidemic during Covid -19 pandemic ”. Around 200 students and teachers from all over Punjab participated through virtual mode. Dr. Kulbir Kaur, Director Principal, Punjab Institute of Medical Science, Jalandhar was a key speaker at the occasion.
She said that Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus transmitted by the bite of the female *Aedes aegypti* mosquito. It occurs during the month of July to October, as conditions were most suitable for the breeding of mosquitoes. We are already in the grip of the second wave of the covid pandemic which was putting immense pressure on our health care facilities and if we face another epidemic of dengue it would have devastating consequences and could lead to the collapse of the health system, she added. Further, in the early stages, it was difficult to distinguish between dengue and covid 19 because of
similarities in clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, therefore, the early and correct diagnosis was very important, she cautioned.
*Dr. Neelima Jerath, Director General, Science City giving introductory remarks at the occasion said that *around 1,50,000 cases of dengue fever are reported annually in our country and *t* the risk of dengue has increased in recent years due to rapid urbanization and deficient water management including improper water storage practices in urban, peri-urban and rural areas, leading to the proliferation of mosquito breeding sites. She emphasized that the prevention of dengue must be intensified through integrated and combined efforts from various sectors to control and prevent its transmission. The key options available with us are to create awareness amongst the masses, control larval habitats around homes, workplaces, dump sites as well as, use insecticide spray to reduce human vector contacts.
*Dr. Rajesh Grover Director, of Science City present at the occasion, said that* the *National Dengue Day* celebrated every year on 16th May marks the need for preparedness before the transmission season of dengue begins in the country. He urged the participants to remove water from coolers and other small containers at least once a week during Dengue season and stressed the need to wear clothes covering arms and legs and use mosquito nets/repellents while sleeping.