Noman Mosharef :
The people of Bangladesh, especially the dwellers of Dhaka city, are going to face another mosquitoes borne disease on the onset of winter.
With the rainy season going over and the onset of winter, the numbers of Culex mosquito, which usually breed and multiply in the dry season, have increased significantly in the capital.
Mentionable, the Culex mosquito carries the ‘West Nile’ virus, while the Aedes mosquito bears the ‘Dengue’ virus.
According to a government data, the dengue outbreak has so far affected at least 100,372 people this year. It also claimed 133 deaths during the period. Though the dengue season is coming to a close, another threat appears to be on its way to the country.
Experts said, from September, the Culex mosquito’s breeding season starts and it continues till May, while December and January are the peak time for Culex breeding.
They further said, 80 per cent of all mosquitoes in Dhaka are of the Culex genus. With the capital still combating the dengue outbreak, a fresh onslaught from a virus hitherto unencumbered could prove to be devastating.
Prof Sanya Tahmina, Director (Disease Control) at the Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS), said the case was originally identified by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research,
Bangladesh (icddr,b) which asked the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) for help.
The DGHS was engaged in the process, Said Prof. Tahmina.
Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, Director at IEDCR, said: “We have found the virus in migratory birds in our country. No local birds have been identified as carriers.”
The West Nile virus is carried by birds who pass it on to Culex mosquitoes, that in turn spread it among humans or birds.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), West Nile virus can cause neurological disease and death in people. The virus is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia.
The larvae sites or the breeding grounds of mosquitoes are usually found in the small and medium-sized water bodies, including drains, canals and ponds.
Talking to residents of at least eight areas, including Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Adabar, Lalbagh and Sutrapur in the last two days, it has been reported that the mosquito outbreak has increased significantly in the last two weeks.
Sabrina Majumdar, a resident of Duaripara road on Pallabi area, said she has seen a rise in the mosquito population over the last two weeks. “It’s very difficult to stay at home in the evening without using mosquito repellent or net,” she said. Kawsar Ahmad, a resident of Nurjahan Road in Mohammadpur area, said he had not seen any attempt to control mosquitoes in his area in the last one month. “In the middle of last year, the DNCC authorities sprayed insecticides in this area regularly. But I haven’t seen any mosquito fogging machine being used in this area over the last seven to eight weeks,” he said.
While the Culex mosquito breeds year round, it hits peak season between December and January. Of the three sub-species of Culex in Dhaka, Culex Quinquefasciatus is the most known carrier of the virus and is more prevalent in the capital.
Dr Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist with the Department of Zoology at Jahangirnagar University, said: “Over 80 per cent of all mosquitoes in Dhaka city are of the Culex variety and the West Nile virus could prove to be more dangerous than dengue.”
Another expert, Dr Manjur A Chowdhury, said: “The authorities should admit their failure in preventing the dengue outbreak. The number of people affected by dengue has fallen, but the future does not seem to provide any respite. The government must establish a Vector Control Research Centre to tackle the situation centrally.”
According to experts, 80 per cent of people bitten by Culex mosquitoes carry the West Nile virus but show no symptoms, while the remaining 20 per cent may exhibit fever, headache, or rash. Of the affected, one out of every 150 people may severely decline in health to the point of death or paralysis.
The West Nile fever has no vaccine and the only prevention method suggested is caution, that is, avoid being bitten by culex mosquitoes.
Dr Kabirul Bashar recommended cleaning up dirty places and preventing water from stagnating around the house. He also advocated spraying insecticide every 15 days. Both the city corporations in Dhaka have taken the issue seriously. The chief health officers from both the Dhaka North and South City Corporations said that they have a comprehensive plan to destroy the breeding grounds of Culex mosquitoes.
Brigadier General Dr Md Sharif Ahmed, chief health officer at Dhaka South City Corporation, said: “Drains will be cleaned and water-logging must be reduced. We will see to it. Then we will spray insecticide to destroy the larva.”
Brigadier General Dr Mominur Rahman, chief health officer at Dhaka North City Corporation, said: “After identifying the breeding grounds, we will spray insecticide accordingly to destroy the larva at the outset. Then we will take other new and additional steps as we continue these activities.”
The people of Bangladesh, especially the dwellers of Dhaka city, are going to face another mosquitoes borne disease on the onset of winter.
With the rainy season going over and the onset of winter, the numbers of Culex mosquito, which usually breed and multiply in the dry season, have increased significantly in the capital.
Mentionable, the Culex mosquito carries the ‘West Nile’ virus, while the Aedes mosquito bears the ‘Dengue’ virus.
According to a government data, the dengue outbreak has so far affected at least 100,372 people this year. It also claimed 133 deaths during the period. Though the dengue season is coming to a close, another threat appears to be on its way to the country.
Experts said, from September, the Culex mosquito’s breeding season starts and it continues till May, while December and January are the peak time for Culex breeding.
They further said, 80 per cent of all mosquitoes in Dhaka are of the Culex genus. With the capital still combating the dengue outbreak, a fresh onslaught from a virus hitherto unencumbered could prove to be devastating.
Prof Sanya Tahmina, Director (Disease Control) at the Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS), said the case was originally identified by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research,
Bangladesh (icddr,b) which asked the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) for help.
The DGHS was engaged in the process, Said Prof. Tahmina.
Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, Director at IEDCR, said: “We have found the virus in migratory birds in our country. No local birds have been identified as carriers.”
The West Nile virus is carried by birds who pass it on to Culex mosquitoes, that in turn spread it among humans or birds.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), West Nile virus can cause neurological disease and death in people. The virus is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia.
The larvae sites or the breeding grounds of mosquitoes are usually found in the small and medium-sized water bodies, including drains, canals and ponds.
Talking to residents of at least eight areas, including Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Adabar, Lalbagh and Sutrapur in the last two days, it has been reported that the mosquito outbreak has increased significantly in the last two weeks.
Sabrina Majumdar, a resident of Duaripara road on Pallabi area, said she has seen a rise in the mosquito population over the last two weeks. “It’s very difficult to stay at home in the evening without using mosquito repellent or net,” she said. Kawsar Ahmad, a resident of Nurjahan Road in Mohammadpur area, said he had not seen any attempt to control mosquitoes in his area in the last one month. “In the middle of last year, the DNCC authorities sprayed insecticides in this area regularly. But I haven’t seen any mosquito fogging machine being used in this area over the last seven to eight weeks,” he said.
While the Culex mosquito breeds year round, it hits peak season between December and January. Of the three sub-species of Culex in Dhaka, Culex Quinquefasciatus is the most known carrier of the virus and is more prevalent in the capital.
Dr Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist with the Department of Zoology at Jahangirnagar University, said: “Over 80 per cent of all mosquitoes in Dhaka city are of the Culex variety and the West Nile virus could prove to be more dangerous than dengue.”
Another expert, Dr Manjur A Chowdhury, said: “The authorities should admit their failure in preventing the dengue outbreak. The number of people affected by dengue has fallen, but the future does not seem to provide any respite. The government must establish a Vector Control Research Centre to tackle the situation centrally.”
According to experts, 80 per cent of people bitten by Culex mosquitoes carry the West Nile virus but show no symptoms, while the remaining 20 per cent may exhibit fever, headache, or rash. Of the affected, one out of every 150 people may severely decline in health to the point of death or paralysis.
The West Nile fever has no vaccine and the only prevention method suggested is caution, that is, avoid being bitten by culex mosquitoes.
Dr Kabirul Bashar recommended cleaning up dirty places and preventing water from stagnating around the house. He also advocated spraying insecticide every 15 days. Both the city corporations in Dhaka have taken the issue seriously. The chief health officers from both the Dhaka North and South City Corporations said that they have a comprehensive plan to destroy the breeding grounds of Culex mosquitoes.
Brigadier General Dr Md Sharif Ahmed, chief health officer at Dhaka South City Corporation, said: “Drains will be cleaned and water-logging must be reduced. We will see to it. Then we will spray insecticide to destroy the larva.”
Brigadier General Dr Mominur Rahman, chief health officer at Dhaka North City Corporation, said: “After identifying the breeding grounds, we will spray insecticide accordingly to destroy the larva at the outset. Then we will take other new and additional steps as we continue these activities.”
