Mysore : A lecture on ‘Emerging Viral Diseases’ by M S Basavaraju,Deputy Chief Medical Officer, University of Mysore Campus was organized here on August 18.

The function was presided over by Director CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore and  Association of Microbiologists of India, Mysore Chapter, Dr. T S Harsha; CEC Member, Dr. G Venkateshwaran and others were present.

Dr. N S Devaki informed the audience about plans for the next year. She informed that poster competition, essay competition, quiz, special lectures, field study and camps will be conducted on the selected themes of microbiological aspects.

Basavaraju spoke about the prominent emerging diseases such as HIV, Influenza, Dengue, Chikungunya, SARS and Ebola.

He highlighted the nature and extent, history, measures to control and inculcation of scientific and medical discipline in order to curb these viral diseases.

While speaking about Ebola, which is proving to be fatal , he said that it can be transmitted through tears, saliva, blood or urine. He said that the  virus cannot survive outside the host body for long but the Ebola virus can survive even on carcass, increasing the risk of the disease.

He opined that preventive measures such as avoiding of sharing of needles, sexual contact (HIV) and breeding of mosquitoes in water storage places (dengue), infection control measures and medical staff training can go a long way in curbing the spread of diseases.