Dengue in Bangladesh alarming but not out of control: WHO

Claiming that the dengue prevalence in Bangladesh is under control compared to other countries like the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sayeed Khokon urged city dwellers to remain alert and not to be panicked, reports UNB.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting with a four-member delegation of the World Health Organization (WHO) at his residence in the morning.

WHO acting country representative for Bangladesh Edwin Salvador led the delegation at the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, he said the dengue situation is alarming in Bangladesh but not out of control.

WHO and DSCC will work jointly to face the situation, Edwin said, adding that they will put forward a report after observing the situation and the city corporation will work on the basis of the report.

Mentioning that aedes mosquitos are born in transparent water, not in drains or filthy water, DSCC mayor Sayeed said there is no alternative to awareness to this end. "We've destroyed the sources of aedes mosquitos in 33,000 houses in the city in February last and taught the owners ways of destroying those. But it's regrettable that we find the same previous situation when we revisit the houses."

Asked about the expired or ineffective medicines to control mosquitos in the city, he said they use medicines supplied by Bangladesh Navy. "We'll look into whether there's any problem in the medicines."

WHO Team Leader for Health Emergencies Hammam El Sakka, Rajendra Bohara of its IVD Immunization and Vaccine Development Unit and Dhaka Divisional Coordinator Jahangir Alam, and DSCC chief executive officer Mustafizur Rahman were, among others, present at the meeting.