Despite the rapidly worsening dengue outbreak in the country, the two city corporations in Dhaka are failing to implement effective measures, with their response seemingly confined in recent times to realising fines from the public.
Residents in various areas of the city complain of a lack of action during the Aedes mosquito breeding season and a failure to eradicate the breeding grounds before the monsoon arrived.
Experts have highlighted that this dire situation is a result of the city corporations’ inadequate efforts in controlling dengue throughout the year.
The alarming situation being witnessed today is the consequence of inadequate year-round measures to control dengue, according to Dr. Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury, an entomologist.
“The two city corporations should take preventive measures before the dengue season starts by collecting and testing mosquitoes in high-infestation areas. However, there is no such initiative, and fines alone will not benefit dengue control,” he said.
He also criticized the unscientific and ineffective instructions given by the city corporations, as well as the lack of skilled manpower to handle the situation. He emphasized that using fogging for mosquito control is proven to be an ineffective method for mosquito control or eradication.
Furthermore, experts pointed out that the government’s lack of effdctive policies for mosquito control and dengue prevention has rendered the efforts of city corporations and municipalities ineffective all over the country.
Since dengue became endemic in Bangladesh starting in 2000, till 2018 it was confined to Dhaka city. The first infections outside Dhaka were recorded in 2019. Today it is present in all 64 districts.
Public health expert Dr. Lelin Chowdhury explained that mere ‘exhibitionism’ of collecting fines by the city corporations without proper collaboration with the public and representatives will not effectively control dengue. He stressed the need for joint efforts to combat the issue.
The absence of laboratories and entomologists in the two cities also contributes to the ineffective control measures.
The failure of the city corporations to effectively control mosquito breeding has allowed the Aedes mosquitoes, carriers of the dengue virus, to spread across the country, leading to a serious dengue outbreak. As the situation worsens, experts warn that immediate action and proper strategies are essential to curb the dengue epidemic.
Dr. Be-Nazir Ahmed highlighted the necessity for technical expertise in mosquito control and suggested the establishment of laboratories for research on the subject.
Entomologist Professor Kabirul Bashar emphasized the importance of scientific mosquito control involving the public, city corporations, municipalities, and the local government ministry.
He proposed implementing mosquito breeding ground destruction activities in conjunction with hotspot management.
Despite the city corporations’ significant spending on mosquito control, the results have been disappointing, with the number of dengue cases and deaths continuing to rise. Reports of
