KARACHI: Dr. Essa Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre organised a seminar on Chikungunya – a viral disease – and Dengue Virus. They also held a free Medical Camp for tests of diabetes and osteoporosis at the Special Security Unit Headquarters in Karachi today. Maqsood Ahmed, Commandant SSU, accompanied by Dr. Farhan Essa Abdullah, Managing Director Dr. Essa Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre, while visiting the camp said that better health and physical fitness will always help commandos effectively take part in operations against terrorists and other hardened criminals. He also thanked the management of the Dr. Essa Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre for arranging the Seminar and Medical Camp at the Headquarters. Addressing the seminar, Dr. Alia Abbas said that Chikungunya is a virus that causes fever and joint pain and typically occurs 2-12 days after exposure to the virus itself. The virus is spread between people by two types of mosquitos; Aedes Albopictus and Aedes Aogypti, both of which are active during the day. The symptoms can be mistaken for those of Dengue fever and Zika fever. The best means of prevention is mosquito control. Dr. Samar highlighted the importance of awareness about the causes of Dengue Virus and how it can be prevented. Over 900 tests of diabetes and osteoporosis were conducted at the Camp while a large number of senior officers, including commandos, attended the seminar. Tasleem Mukhtar, Shahid Khan, Arif Siddiqui, Farhan Bukhari, Amna Ansari, Mohsin Ahmed, Falak Naz and Sharjeel Hussain from Dr. Essa Laboratory and Diagnostic Centre also participated in the event.