The Plant Protection Department at the College of Agriculture, University of Basra, held a scientific symposium entitled The Role of Insects in Transmitting Pandemic Viruses The first two lectures were given by Prof. Muhammad Amer Fayyad, College of Agriculture, University of Basra The second lecture on the role of insects in transmitting epidemic viruses and ways to prevent them was given by Prof. Abdul Karim Hashem Muhammad Khalil from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Mosul The course included questions and discussions about the role of insects in transmitting viruses and how to reduce the damage they cause. The symposium reached a number of recommendations, the most important of which are 1- Intensifying the research path towards verifying the role of insects in transmitting viruses directly or indirectly 2- Determining the size of the scientific void in our research activity in order to enable We have drawn up plans to supplement them with research activity 3- Establishing a virus study unit affiliated to the Prevention Department 4- Establishing a scientific association for studying viruses at the College of Agriculture, University of Basra by professors specialized in this aspect from Iraqi and regional universities 5- Maintaining scientific communication between researchers regarding the latest results of scientific research Concerning viruses 6- Searching for plant extracts to be used as anti-virus materials.
