Health DG warns of dengue outbreak this year

The incidence of mosquito-borne disease dengue may be higher this year than last, said director general of DGHS professor Abul Kalam Azad on Thursday, reports UNB.

Attending an open meeting at the ministry chaired by health minister Mohammad Nasim over preparations of mosquito-control in the city, Abul Kalam came up with the remarks.

"But there is no possibility of Chikungunya outbreak this year," he added.

Health minister Mohammad Nasim called for sincerity and awareness of the city dwellers to keep clean their houses and adjacent areas to prevent the outbreak of infected mosquitoes getting out of control.

Meanwhile, a recent survey of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) revealed that the most mosquito-prone areas are Minto Road, Bailey Road, Uttara, Chowdhurypara of Malibagh, Basundhara residential area, Elephant Road, Dhanmondi, Banani, Gabtoli, Moghbazar, Mirpur, Mohakhali, Nakhalpara, Sewrapara, Gulshan, Meradia and Shantinagar.

The survey was conducted between 10 January and January 20 last at around 2000 households in 100 areas of 93 wards in Dhaka city.

The survey also stated that the accumulated waste and dust along with dirty water triggers the high birthrate of two types of mosquitoes of the Aedes variety which cause different types of diseases like Dengue or Chikungunya (yet another variety, sometimes called the Giles, causes Malaria) that are transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes.

The first reported case of dengue in the lands comprising Bangladesh today was in 1964. There followed sporadic cases over the next three decades and then the disease became entrenched through an outbreak in 2000 that was the first officially recorded epidemic.

The highest number of cases reported in a single year was 6,132 in 2002.

State minister for health and family welfare Zahid Malek, the secretaries of Health Service Department and Health Education Department, representatives of Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation were also present at the meeting.