30th Kerala Science Congress wraps up stressing on ‘Viruses and infectious diseases’
Thiruvananthapuram, February 1: With the theme of ‘Viruses and infectious diseases’, 30th Kerala Science Congress wrapped up which included lessons of the science behind infections and diseases. The KSC was organised at Government Brennen College for three days where scientists from different parts of the country graced the event.
The 30th KSC, organised by the Kerala State Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), highlighted ongoing researches on viruses and infectious diseases. Nearly 100 national science research institutions participated in the exhibition. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences, National Transportation Planning and Research Centre, Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Kozhikode, were among those took part in the exhibition.
Entailing about the deadly effects of viruses on human lives, T Jacob John, Chairman of Institute of Advanced Virology said that human mastery over viral diseases included prevention by vaccines and treatment with antiviral drugs. Smallpox and cattle plague had been eradicated and polio was on the verge of eradication, while measles and rubella were targeted for eradication. He further called on be aware that humans were vulnerable to several emerging viruses that jumped from other species to infect humans.
Further Vijaya Satchidanandan, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, made a presentation on the safety and efficacy of the live attenuated vaccine for Japanese encephalitis virus.
Anmol Chandele, Assistant Professor, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, in her paper stressed on human immune responses to dengue virus infections in India, said India had now become the country with the highest dengue burden worldwide.
There were many scientists who presented their researches. A major attraction of the KSC was the science exhibition that began on January 26 and got concluded on 30th January.