HYDERABAD, Nov 16: Medical experts have called upon people to protect themselves from mosquitoes which were causing the viral haemorrhagic fever. They said that in case of high fever, the patient must immediately approach doctors as it was a curable disease.

They were speaking at a seminar on “Prevention of Dengue Fever” here on Thursday.

The seminar was organised by the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Mohammad Memon said that prevention was always better than cure.

He said that a patient of dengue fever should not panic, but approach doctors immediately because the disease was curable.

He said that experts at LUMHS were fully prepared to extend their full support in controlling the disease.

He said that research and diagnostic laboratory was providing free of cost services to diagnose the disease.

He urged the senior professors to conduct investigation with a view to controlling the epidemic.

Professor Rafique Soomro said that more than 100 million cases of dengue fever had been reported in the world.

He said that dengue fever was the third most dangerous killer after diarrhoea and respiratory infections.

Prof Soomro said that the most effective method of controlling the disease was creating public awareness to destroy the root cause of the disease — mosquitoes.

Prof Ashraf Khaskheli said that the dengue virus destroyed the blood clotting mechanism.

Prof Dr Noor Mohammad Memon recommended rest, plenty of fluid intake, good diet and in certain cases blood transfusion.

Dr Khalid Shaikh said that as no vaccine had been invented against dengue fever, efforts should be directed at eliminating mosquitoes.

He advised the people to use mosquito nets, mosquito repellents and wear full sleeves light coloured clothes.

He stressed the need for launching a full-blown awareness programmes through media and in educational institutions.

Professor Allah Bachayo Memon said that Congo fever was even more dangerous than dengue fever.

Dr Sohail Almani spoke on the diagnosis and clinical features of the disease.

The vice-chancellor formed a high-level committee of specialists to recommend measures to control the spread of epidemics.