When coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is haunting people across the country, dengue has set to pose a serious threat this year. Dengue, an aedes mosquito-borne viral infection, is going take a serious turn as the number of people infected with the disease is about four times higher compared to the same period of previous year.
According to data of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a total of 271 dengue infection cases were reported in Bangladesh between January 1 and March 31, while only 73 cases were recorded in the first three months in 2019. In 2019, more than one lakh dengue infected people were hospitalized across the country, breaking all previous records of the past two decades, according to data from DGHS.
Health experts warned that the dengue infection may take more serious turn if the current trend continues. On the other hand, aedes mosquito larvae has been found in at least 44 wards out of 98 in the capital, according to a health service survey report released on Tuesday.
The pre-rainy season survey was done from March 5 to 14. And it was found that presence of aedes mosquitoes was higher in seven of the wards with over 10 in the Breteau Index. Dr Ayesha Akter, assistant director of the DGHS Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room told Bangladesh Post, “Although, the number of dengue infection is higher comparing three months of last year, we did not see any new dengue infected patient between March 24 and March 28.”
About the presence of aedes larvae in different wards, she said, “The presence of aedes was not yet risky but the authorities concerned should take steps to stamp out the dengue virus carrier as the rainy season would set in soon.” Regarding the prevalence of dengue, Entomologist Kabirul Bashar said, “No dengue patient was admitted to hospitals from March 24 to March 28. This does not mean that no one is suffering from dengue. The reason is that no one is going to the hospital fearing coronavirus infection.”
He also said, “The number of dengue patients has increased this time compared to last year. Necessary measures should be taken for this. City Corporation’s mosquito prevention unit should work from the beginning to kill mosquitoes and destroy the breeding grounds. People should be aware to clean the surrounding of their house. Besides coronavirus, it has to be given importance. Otherwise, dengue can go out of control.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during a video conference with government officials of 64 districts from Ganobhaban on Tuesday, asked the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to check mosquito breeding. Residents of different areas in the capital complained that increased mosquito menace made it difficult for them to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dhaka city dwellers have already been overwhelmed by fears of the deadly coronavirus outbreak while dengue cases is triggering more fear in them. Farzana Afrose Toma, a resident of the city’s Mirpur 1 area suffered from dengue fever last year, said, “I was hospitalized for 15 days. I have absolutely no desire to revisit those memories.”
Although City Corporations claimed that they are continuing their fogging and larviciding activities, city dwellers said that it is not adequate at all. “I did not sees any fogging or larviciding activities in our area in last one month,” said Ayesha Hossain, a resident at Dholaikhal area in Old Dhaka.
On the other hand, experts said that it is not possible to check dengue by city corporations only if citizens do not become aware and clean their house premises. Everyone is looking at the effective action of the City Corporation; however, citizens are neglecting their own responsibility, they said.
Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Md Mominur Rahman told Bangladesh Post, “DNCC has assigned the health workers to deal with coronavirus related works and 540 workers will do their regular jobs like fogging and spraying everyday across 54 wards. We are spraying disinfectants (bleaching powder) on the road as well as larviciding for destroying mosquito larvae. Our mosquito control workers are now regularly spraying pesticides.”
He also said, “We hope that the way the city people are cooperating with us to prevent coronavirus, will also cooperate with us to prevent mosquito breeding by cleaning their own households.” Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon, who was criticized for his failure in preventing dengue outbreak last year, said the mosquito-control workers would make door-to-door visits in mosquito-prone areas to destroy Aedes larvae and train people on how to terminate mosquitoes. He also urged city dwellers to keep their houses and surroundings clean to prevent dengue cases.