The best way to deal with the dengue crisis that is affecting the country is to mobilise the communities to take preventive measures, say health experts.
"Community involvement is vital to stop dengue transmission... There should be a coordinated effort from all relevant organisations to contain the dengue outbreak," said Dr M Mushtaq Hussain, adviser of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), in an interview with BSS.
He said that the number of dengue-positive cases has risen sharply since late June, both in urban and rural areas. "Many dengue cases are found outside Dhaka city," he added.
Mushtaq warned that the infection rate would increase during the rainy season if proper actions were not taken to curb the spread of the disease.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle dengue and said that a single institution couldn't handle the problem.
Explaining the nature of dengue disease, the IEDCR advisor said, it is urgent to set up testing booths in different points of Dhaka and other cities for quick detection of dengue cases. He suggested that people visit doctors immediately if dengue symptoms are seen.
He urged the city corporations to create an adequate number of volunteers to manage the dengue situation properly.
Kabirul Bashar, professor of the Department of Zoology of Jahangirnagar University, said, "Generally, Aedes mosquito is found in residential areas...breeding sources of Aedes mosquito are inside and outside the houses."
Analyzing the life cycle of the Aedes mosquito, he termed it as a domestic species and said its management system will be different from other species of mosquito.
"So, it is very important to understand the reproductive nature and life cycle of Aedes mosquito to take effective measures for prevention of Dengue outbreak," he added.
Bashar, also an eminent entomologist, said dengue has emerged as a massive health burden in the country as authorities are handling the mosquito-borne disease following traditional methods.
"We need to recruit health workers, who will be assigned to oversee specific several houses in particular areas in Dhaka city throughout the year," Bashar said, adding year-long monitoring system must be introduced to destroy potential breeding sources of Aedes mosquitoes.
He forecasted that dengue-positive cases will increase in August and September as these two months are the most suitable period for the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes.
The entomologist urged the two city corporations of Dhaka and relevant organizations to step up their efforts in a coordinated manner for controlling the dengue outbreak.
"We have to take preventive steps, particularly destroying breeding sources of Aedes mosquito to stop the outbreak of dengue disease," Director of The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) Prof Dr Tahmina Shirin said.
City dwellers must be cautious about stagnant water which is the main source of breeding of Aedes mosquito, she said, adding that even a small quantity of water can grow Aedes mosquitoes leading to the spread of such deadly disease.
The IEDCR director said that even if a small quantity of water is left stagnant in any broken pot, tyre, vas or container inside and outside homes and offices, it can be a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes.
She urged the city dwellers to remain careful about sources of stagnant water as most of the people in the country have utter negligence to keep their surroundings neat and clean. In recent times, rooftop gardening has become popular in urban settings, which is also congenial for mosquito breeding, Prof Thahmina added.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), as of July 8, as many as 3,870 dengue cases were reported while the total figure stood at 12,118, this year. Seventeen dengue patients died between July 1 and 8 while total deaths from dengue reached 67 so far.
Health minister warns
Dengue threat grows as minister warns of peak season.
The health minister, Zahid Maleque, has said that the dengue outbreak could worsen in the next three months, from July to September, as the country faces a looming health crisis.
Speaking at a press conference at his home on Sunday afternoon, he said that dengue had spread to nearly 57 districts, with Dhaka being the worst affected. "Dhaka has the most patients, who are mainly in Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Mugda Hospital. We will ask the City Corporation and Municipalities to step up their spraying activities," he said.
He added that the government had taken steps to deal with the situation, such as setting up dengue units in hospitals across the country, training medical staff and providing saline solutions to dengue patients.
