Strengthen mosquito control activities in Dhaka

Media reports say the residents in Dhaka city are enduring extreme mosquito problems. Apparently, mosquitoes grow when anti-mosquito activities are absent. Last year, mosquito control activities were carried out due to widespread criticism on the wake of dengue across the country, but this has faded as the disease has declined. Does that mean that the authorities have to sleep until any mosquito-borne disease turns epidemic? Will they wake up only when thousands of people would swarm the hospitals and medical centres being infected with mosquito-borne diseases?

The number of mosquitoes would not have increased this much had the two city corporations of Dhaka carried on its anti-mosquito drives throughout the year. The people are not voicing protests as there is a lull in the spread of dengue. This is alarming that the city corporations has relaxed their drives. Moreover, people are still being infected with dengue. According to the media, 250 dengue patients had already been hospitalised.

It's alarming that the mosquitoes would double up within the next two weeks. This was assessed by a research team that has been working on the mosquito density in the capital and anticipating its breeding. The team conducted a weeklong survey and predicted that mosquitoes in Dhaka would reach the record high. The temperature will be rising from the middle of March allowing the mosquito larvae to mature. The research team funded by the education ministry was led by Kabirul Bashar who told the media that crush programmes were required to spray medicines at mosquito breeding grounds immediately or else mosquitoes would become unconquerable in Dhaka.

The city corporations do not seem active in this regard. Reports already appeared that the machines for destroying mosquito larvae are dysfunctional at 18 wards in Dhaka North City Corporation. It can be assumed that the scenario is not better at other wards too. Following the dengue outbreak those machines were imported in a rush spending huge money. No one had to account for the machines turning dysfunctional so soon. Reports have appeared that already machines are being imported from China. This time the quality of the machines should be ensured.

The anti-mosquito medicines should be sprayed regularly throughout the year as this is not a seasonal issue.