LAHORE, Sept 22: “The United Stated spread dengue virus as a tool of bio-warfare in Cuba in 1971.”

This was stated by Dr Aramis Martinez, vector borne disease central consultant and Zambian National Larviciding Programme coordinator, Cuba, while addressing a meeting of Dengue Research Group at the Punjab University on Saturday.

Dr Martinez said Cuba controlled dengue fever through vector control, larvae control, community involvement and case management. He said only one type of dengue was found in Cuba i.e. Aedes Aegypti and vector control and wise use of harmless chemicals played vital role in containing the disease. “We need to combine the work of entomologist with other experts to fight the disease,” he stressed.

The Cuban expert said the government was responsible only to provide resources and it was the prime responsibility of the private sector to move forward and collaborate in controlling the disease.

He said the Pakistani experts should be well aware of the habits of dengue mosquito as in 2006 in Cuba, the dengue mosquito changed its habits and its breeding sites were found on the rooftop, tree holes etc.

The PU vice chancellor said it could not be ruled out that the dengue fever in Pakistan was a part of bio-warfare of the United States. Stating that biological and psychological warfare was going on and reiterated that the enemy of Cuban, American people and the whole mankind was not US but a clique of supreme rich families who controlled the United States behind the curtain.

He said the US had also tested viruses not only in Cuba and other countries but it also experimented dengue virus on its own population in Florida.

PU Dengue Research Group Chairman Dr Saeed Akhtar and others also spoke on the occasion.