‘Global warming is aiding the spread of mosquito-borne diseases’

Global warming is worsening the situation by way of fomenting the spread of mosquito-transmitted diseases,said Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences,University of Notre Dam,USA,Karamjit Singh Rai,while presiding on the concluding day of the three-day international conference on Entomology at Department of Zoology,Punjabi University,on Monday .

He added that Malaria sickens 300 to 500 million people in the world and kills over a million every year. Over 100 million cases of dengue are also reported worldwide every year,he said. He also gave a clarion call for integrating pest-management and vector management for the evolution of a healthy society. Out of the 100 students who participated in the event,around seven were honoured in the poster-making competition. Vice-Chancellor of the university,Jaspal Singh was also present on the occasion.

Former Additional Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research and Director,Malaria Research Centre,V P Sharma,said,“Our knowledge about the mosquito fauna is quite old and the database scanty,even as the ecological conditions of Punjab and Haryana has dramatically changed over the recent years.”

Organising secretary of the conference,Jagbir Singh extended a vote of thanks.