Huge dengue outbreak likely this year, warn experts
A massive outbreak of mosquito-borne disease dengue may occur this year in Dhaka if urgent measures are not taken right now to control Aedes mosquitoes, experts have warned.
Epidemiologists and entomologists came up with the observation in a view-exchange programme organised by the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) in the capital on Sunday.
Mosquitoes shift places, so a mosquito-free area can be populated with the flies later, said professor Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).
The whole Dhaka city is a hot spot of mosquitoes, she said adding that analysed reports revealed students and professionals are being hit most by dengue and it means educational institutions and offices have been neglected before.
Annually, a number of three mosquito surveys are carried out by the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) unit, DGHS (Directorate General of Health Services), in the capital and latest one was carried out on 17-27 December, IEDCR director professor Sania Tahmina told the meeting. The number of larvae found this time of the year has been less than the preceding year, she added.
It is hard to control mosquitoes in Dhaka where several big projects are underway, said Sania. Public works ministry, environment department, and the law enforcement agencies should be up and doing for limiting dengue outbreak, she added seeking additional funds for this.
Several DNCC senior officials, ward councillors along with health department officials, university teachers and researchers were present at the meeting that addressed ways to contain Culex and Aedes mosquitoes.
The role of the DNCC to control mosquito in the past were assessed while future measures were evaluated too at the discussion.
Brigadier general Mominur Rahman, chief health officer of DNCC, said the corporation had started its mosquito control activities in April last year, but this year the activities have been initiated in January. "We expect the severity of dengue experienced last year will not be repeated this year and we seek overall cooperation to this end."
Deputy chief health officer lieutenant colonel Sarwar said, a five-year action plan is being drafted to eliminate Culex and Aedes mosquitoes. The meeting was chaired by DNCC chief executive officer Md Abdul Hai.
As many as 51 per cent of the dengue patients were from Dhaka last year, said Afsana Alamgir Khan, deputy manager of national malaria elimination and Aedes-borne disease control programme
Both Sania and Meerjady emphasised taking action right now as dengue has not yet hit the hardest.
Many are considering that the outbreak of dengue will not be that severe this year as it was so severe for past two consecutive years, said entomologist Manzur Ahmed Chowdhury. But such a notion is unscientific, he said adding that, dengue may appear during Eid-ul-Azha this year.
Jahangirnagar University's Biology professor, Kabirul Bashar, said dengue will remain unconquered if it is not approached systematically. He said it is time to identify the proper insecticide and its procurement process needed to fight against Aedes mosquitos.