Udupi: National Continuing Medical Education on Vector Borne Diseases

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Manipal, 25 May 2013: Scientific deliberations by experts from different parts of the country at the two-day National Continuing Medical Education (CME) on vector-borne diseases (VBDs) held here on May 22 and 23, 2013 was successful in bridging the knowledge gap and imparting the recent advances in the VBDs. The CME concluded with the experts urging the people to be alert and joining hands with the public and private health institutions to curb curbing the menace of these diseases. 

The CME was organised by the Department of Community Medicine, KMC, Manipal and was inaugurated by Dr M T Reju, Deputy Commissioner of Udupi District. The Professor and Head of the Department of Community Medicine and Organising Chairperson, Dr Veena G Kamath, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal welcomed the gathering.

 

The VBDs are a group of communicable diseases like Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Kala-azar and Lymphatic filariasis transmitted by mosquitoes and other vectors. The CME had scientific deliberations by experts from different parts of the country. Dr Ravi Kumar K, Senior Regional Director, Government of India discussed the burden of VBDs in the past, present and future. Dr Muralidhar Varma, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, KMC, Manipal spoke on the  challenges in the diagnosis of VBDs.

Dr Arun Kumar, Manipal Centre of Virological Research, Manipal University briefed on surveillance of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) and its role in control of VBDs was emphasised by Dr Rohini, District Surveillance Officer, Udupi. The diagnostic need of Lymphatic Filariasis and Dengue was discussed by Dr S L Hoti, Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry. Fifteen research papers were also presented.

 
Dr Ravi Kumar spoke on the Kyasanur Forest Disease and IDSP. The success story of control of malaria in Goa was presented as a case study by Dr Ashwani Kumar. The last session comprised demonstration of mosquito bionomics and vector control measures by Dr Ashok, District Malaria Office and Ms. Jyothsna Entomologist, Udupi.